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Monday, November 26, 2012

UTALAGO/HORIZON



Having had an internal and external facelift, Stable Theatre in Johannes Nkosi (formerly Alice) Street is fast becoming one of Durban’s premier performance venues. With its long and impressive history as a theatre that made space for marginal voices during the apartheid years, it now continues to host innovative and ground-breaking performance and theatre. Flatfoot Dance Company is delighted to have been invited by Stable Theatre to offer a season of its award-winning brand of African contemporary dance theatre.

Artistic Director of Flatfoot, Lliane Loots, says: “For Flatfoot, we hope this is the start of a beautiful long term relationship with Stable Theatre, it is a safe and secure space with ample on site fenced parking, car guards and I think its intimate size is perfect for some of the work we do”.

utalago/horizon premiered in a one-off performance at  artSPACE durban earlier in November and the audiences were blown away by the sheer force and innovation of the work. Flatfoot is delighted that utalago/horizon can find further airing at Stable Theatre. As Loots says, “this is one of those dance theatre works that really remind me why I love dance, why I love Durban and why I love Flatfoot!”

Hailed as a theatre piece that begins to truly re-define the aesthetics of African Contemporary dance and made for the five award-winning resident dancers of Flatfoot - Sifiso Majola, Tshediso Kabulu, Julia Wilson, Lerato Lipere and Sifiso Khumalo himself - utalago/horizon also features the accompaniment of master drummers and musicians, Mandla Matsha and Njabulo Shabalala. Subtle drum rhythms find confluence with the power and strength of Durban’s top dance company as they deliver a tour-de-force performance – not to be missed!

Choreographer Sifiso Khumalo says of the work: “It is like we all start the piece as a group of travellers setting out on a journey together. The whole dance work is about how we go on these amazing inner spiritual journeys, sometimes together and sometimes alone, but – much like our lives – we all end up right where we started again. Of course, we are changed but almost like we have the grace to begin again and again. I hope the audience goes on this journey with us as dancers and musicians”.

This dance work is described as a breathtaking encounter with the soul and spirit of a contemporary Africa; full of vibrant movement and bustle, and yet enough space to find pause and breath. As audiences watch utalago/horizon they will feel as if they are rediscovering the heartland! Perfect for the festive season!

Presented in association with Stable Theatre, Flatfoot’s utalagu/horizon runs at Stable Theatre from December 6 to 8 at 19h00 and on December 9 at 15h00. The performance lasts for an hour. Tickets R50 (R30 scholars, students and OAP) available at the door from one hour before performance starts and through  prior booking on 082 875 6065.