(Leagan Peffer)
(Reviews from the artSMart team at the 2015 National Arts
Festival in Grahamstown)
Very fine dance work deals with much aggression. (Review by
Caroline Smart)
Described as a journey delving deep into the mind of self-discovery,
the contemporary dance work. ... If The
World Was Listening was presented on this year’s festival by The KZN Dance
Productions NPC supported by The Playhouse Company.
It poses the question that - if the world would pause and
turn a willing ear to one’s mouth - what is it that you would say?
The work is directed by Leagan Peffer and choreographed by
Sandile Mkhize in collaboration with the dancers. This is a highly-disciplined
and skilled group who handled this thought-provoking work with passion and
energy. The dancers include Nkanyiso Kunene, Kristi-Leigh
Greeser; Julia Hosmer; Monde Marafane; Leagan Peffer; Lorin Sookool and Sandile
Mkhize.
The name of the costume designer is not apparent in the
publicity material but they were very effective and I was particularly
impressed with a skirt of newspaper pages. Like petals, they flowed yet
hindered her.
Blankets play an important role. The production opens with a
lone and unemotional woman seated and wrapped in blankets. The atmosphere is
unsettled as the sound of strong wind fills the theatre. There are five people
lying on the floor on their backs like dead spiders.
As the work continues, it presents disturbing moods and deals
with much aggression and angry or dominating relationships.
Eventually, there is unity and everyone is wrapped blankets
except for our first female who shakes her blanket off and takes a loud, strong
and independent breath. You can interpret this conclusion any way you like –
whatever you choose, you will have seen a very fine dance work.
... If The World Was
Listening is the winner of a 2015 Standard Bank Ovation Award. – Caroline Smart
(For more information on the National Arts Festival click
on the banner advert at the top of this page or visit www.nationalartsfestival.co.za)
Posts
