(Thobi
Maphanga foregrounded in “History is a Home Address”. Pic by Val Adamson)
In History
is a Home Address, Flatfoot Dance Company meet the
words of South African poet Mongane Wally Serote in a uniquely visioned choreopoem
… Presented in association with Stable Theatre it will be presented for school
and public performances between May 22 and 26.
History
Is A Home Address is the title of one of Dr Mongane
Wally Serote’s most recent poetry collections and its provocative invitation to
engage memory, history and belonging, got Flatfoot Dance Company inspired to
see if the writings of this anti-apartheid activist and African poet
extraordinaire, could still find resonance with a young audience today in 2013.
Artistic Director and choreographer for
Flatfoot, Lliane Loots, says; “creating this ‘choreopoem’ asked us as dancers
and choreographers to look back at our history and to see what we still felt
deeply in our bodies and our hearts. Using the influential early anti-apartheid
poems and later writings of Serote as the backbone of this work, the dancers
and I have crafted what we hope is a magical cultural and historical theatrical
feast that will treat young and old audiences alike to a spoken word dance ‘choreopoem’
that honours one of South Africa’s most influential poets and black
intellectuals”.
Working with the resonant words of Serote,
Loots’s collaborative choreography with the six dancers of Flatfoot (Sifiso Majola, Sifiso Khumalo, Tshediso
Kabulu, Julia Wilson, Jabu Siphika and Thobi Maphanga) will sing, move, dance
and bring to life the vision that was/is Serote’s. Look out for iconic poems
like City Johannesburg and No Baby Must Weep all performed in an
evocative piece of physical theatre that will inspire and, most importantly,
remind us of our beautiful, rich and diverse “home address”.
Flatfoot Dance Company is KZN’s premier
African contemporary dance company and with numerous awards for their dance
work and recent international tours under their belts. This is their second
collaborative offering in partnership with the newly-renovated Stable Theatre.
“History
Is A Home Address” offers special school performances at 11h00 from May 22
to 24 (pre-booking essential!), and will offer two open public performances on May
24 at 18h30 and May 26 at 15h00
This work is suitable for all ages and is
50mins in length. Tickets R25pp for schools performances and R35pp for the public
shows. Bookings through Clare on 082 875 6065 or e-mail Craighead@ukzn.ac.za
Stable Theatre is situated at 117 Johannes
Nkosi Street (formerly Alice Street) opposite the bus depot.
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