DANCE AFRICA DANCE!

(Members of the company)

A vibrant large-scale original musical theatre production – Dance Africa Dance – will showcase creative talent from throughout Africa, to be staged at the Playhouse Drama early in June ahead of travelling to Russia as part of the African support team for Cameroon during the Confederation Cup.

Creative live-wire, Sifiso Mthethwa and his Vision Faces team have conceived a 100% original production which talks to the continent of Africa’s inherent love of soccer, dance and music as a unifier, and common thread among strangers. He has cast a multi-national collaborative company of dancers and musicians from KZN, Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Ghana. The production uses English as its central language, while incorporating Mother-tongue influences and themes from participating nations.

The company is 50-member strong, comprising performers, dancers, musicians, drummers and support staff. As part of the social-cohesion process, the cast have collaborated to envision, write and devise the production, under the framework and direction of Sifiso Mthethwa.

“Soccer unites Africa. As does music and dance. The culture of Africa is varied and manifold, consisting of a mixture of tribes, cultures, religions, languages and legacies that each have their own unique characteristics. We really wanted to create a very special purpose-made product which shows the world that through our common interests, like soccer, music and dance, we can find unity and strength in a divided and fractured world. The DAD mission is to contribute in strengthening the BRICS initiative by ensuring that Africa is united; sings with one voice and dances in unity ,” considers Mthethwa.

“We wanted our process and production to reflect the power of unity through arts, and to showcase this to an international audience. We are delighted to be premiering our production on our home turf before travelling abroad. “We believe Dance Africa Dance will give Africa and the world the other picture of South Africa that our people and our government does not support Xenophobia and this will show the world we are trying to unite Africa using sports and culture,” concludes Mthethwa

Dance Africa Dance has been championed by COSUA - a pan-African organisation that mobilises support for African teams in international football tournaments. The production’s aim is for Dance Africa Dance to symbolically represent African support from all African countries to encourage African Champions Cameroon during Confederation Cup in Russia in June 2017.

Dance Africa Dance will proudly represent the African continent in Moscow, St. Pietersburg and Sochi in mid-June during Confederation Cup. The intention is then to tour to China – performing in three cities; Shanghai, Hong Kong and Hangzhou. 

Dance Africa Dance is conceived by Sifiso Mthethwa, written by Sifiso Mthethwa and the company; Music Director is Nhlanhla Sibisi, choreography is by the company, dance captain is Bheki Mbili. Costume co-ordination by Nelisiwe Rushualang on behalf of Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre who have hosted the rehearsal process and provided administrative and logistical support.

The production has been made possible through the generous support of the National Ministry of Arts and Culture.

Dance Africa Dance will premiere in the Playhouse Drama from June 7 to 11. Booking is through www.computicket.com / 0861 915 8000 / Shoprite Checkers Money Market Counters.