Beating to the African drum, the show was
slick, energetic and entertaining. (Review by Verne Rowin Munsamy)
Images of warm African sunsets mixed with
red dusty soil and dancing that will have you clapping, stomping and whistling
with cheer, that is the journey that is Dance
Africa Dance. Brainchild of Creative live-wire, Sifiso Mthethwa and his
Vision Faces team, this unique experience encompasses dance, music, singing,
love for soccer and variegated costumes. Talent from all over Africa, 50
performers, make up this multi-national collaborative company of dancers and
musicians from KZN, Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Ghana.
The first half invites you in with a
spectacle of dance styles and rhythms from all over the African continent.
Acrobatic stunts to traditional Zulu dance battles, infused with the beat of
the Congo drum and that was enough to have audiences raring to go in this high
octane explosion and celebration of dance.
The first half reminds us of the joy that
is dance and the splendour and diversity that is Africa. The costumes bombard
us with the bold colour patterns of Nigeria to the intricate beadworks found in
South African culture, this mesh of colour, culture and choreography leaves one
breathless for an interval.
The second half interrogates the darker
side of Africa. One where innocent women and children are slaughtered and where
genocide and xenophobia are alive. “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.
The show was slick, energetic and
entertaining. I found myself lost in the music and reminiscent in the
choreography. The dancers are to be commended for their stamina, the singers
for their melodic soundtrack and the band for their stoic performance, all of
which had the crowd leaping off their seats at times.
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. Two more performances – tonight (June 10) at 19h30 and (tomorrow
June 11) at 14h00. Booking is at Computicket. - Verne Rowin Munsamy
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