(Left: Fana
Tshabalala. Pic by
Val Adamson )
Durban’s much-loved Flatfoot Dance Company
with celebrated dance-maker Fana Tshabalala, and legendary Vincent Mantsoe and
Lulu Mlangeni feature this weekend (September 6 to 8) at the close out to the
21st JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience Festival at the Elizabeth Sneddon
Theatre at UKZN.
Fana Tshabalala, is the featured UKZN
Mellon Foundation Artist-in-residence who has collaborated with the Flatfoot
Dance Company in amaVendors, as they
explore the journey of women and men who wake up every day to sell in the
streets to provide for themselves and the loved ones.
Tshabalala will present his solo Man inspired by the ideal kind of “Man”
within society and how the roles and responsibilities have changed
throughout the years - a new type of “Man” is emerging - gentle,
sensitive, caring - a “Man” not afraid of express his feelings. “In light of
the current situation and conversation in the country focused on the complicit
and explicit role men play in the scourge raged against women and girls, this
should make for an interesting piece to
watch and for discussion afterwards,” says Artistic Director, Lliane Loots.
(Right: Vincent
Mantsoe. Pic by
Val Adamson )
Considered to be one of the founding
fathers of South African contemporary dance Vincent Mantsoe, returns with the world
premiere of his new work SoliiDad, an
abstract journey to oblivion. This is a deeply personal journey into the
very nature of being. Taking its impulse from Lao Tzu’s comment that, “a good
traveller has no fixed plan, and is not intent on arriving”, Mantsoe’s
exquisite solo is a journey into, and survival of, loneliness.
Mantsoe is set in a double bill with
Johannesburg based Lulu Mlangeni – a young up and coming dance maker that is
taking the country by storm. 
(Left: Lulu
Mlangeni. Pic by
Zivanai Matangi)
She will present her duet called The Encounter and it is a brave and
unflinching contemporary journey into African spirituality and belonging. The Encounter is a dance duet that
explores the timelessness of human spiritual ambivalence.
Flatfoot and Fana Tshabalala perform on
Friday, September 6 at 19h30 and Mantsoe and Mlangeni on Saturday, September 7 at
19h30 and Sunday, September 8 at 14h30 at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, UKZN.
A free workshop will be conducted by
Mantsoe, (who spends his time between France and South Arica teaching,
choreographing and doing masterclasses) on Friday September 6 at 16h30 at the
UKZN Dance Studio. Booking is essential via jombafestival@gmail.com
The JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience is
presented by the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts with
support from the eThekwini Municipality.
Tickets R80 (R60 students/scholars/pensioners/group
booking of more than x10) available on Computicket.
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