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 from
June 7 to 11 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 of 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,” explains
Mthethwa. “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 “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,” Mthethwa concludes.
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 for it 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 at the Playhouse Drama from
June 7 to 11. Booking is through www.computicket.com / 0861 915 8000 / Shoprite
Checkers Money Market Counters.
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