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.
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