BOUNDARIES

(Pic by Val Adamson Photography)

Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) Drama and Production Studies Department presents the Annual Dance Production, a season of contemporary dance entitled Boundaries, directed by Mdu Mtshali coming to the Courtyard Theatre from October 3 to 5, 2018.

“The Boundaries season of contemporary dance, addresses issues of high unemployment rates, inequality, land ownership and poverty,” explains Mtshali. “Nelson Mandela's electoral victory in 1994 signified the end of apartheid in South Africa, a system of widespread racially-based segregation which enforced almost complete separation of different races in South Africa.

“Under the apartheid system, South Africans were classified into four different races: White, Black, Coloured, and Indian. While the end of apartheid allowed equal rights for all South Africans regardless of race, modern-day South Africa struggled to correct the social inequalities created by decades of oppression. Many of the inequalities created and enforced by apartheid still remain in South Africa today. South Africa currently faces high unemployment rates of 26.7 percent as recorded in the first quarter of 2018. More frightening is the increase in youth unemployment to 52.40 percent from 51.10 percent in the last quarter of 2017.

“Government corruption is an endemic problem. Violent crime has not been tamed. The HIV/AIDS rates are among the highest in the world. Squatter communities just keep expanding, and millions of poor blacks have seen little or no improvement in their lives as the country marks 24 years since the end of apartheid. This production identifies an opportunity to the fight against unemployment, poverty, inequality and the lack of land ownership by black South Africans by using dance, song and movement” he says.

Boundaries involves all second-year and third-year Theatre Dance specialists, and showcases new works by Durban based choreographers: Mdu Mtshali and Tshediso Kabulu.

Boundaries runs from October 3 to 5 nightly at 19h00 in DUT’s Courtyard Theatre, Mansfield / Steve Biko Road. Entrance R20. More information from Lebohang Sibisi on 031 373 2194.