(Above: Jabu Siphika & Mthoko Mkhwanazi. Photo by Val Adamson)
“The Cleansing” reminds us that our roots go deeper than we know. We are so busy standing in lines and following our monotonous routines that we sometimes forget to breathe and allow our inner dance to surface. (Review by Verne Rowin Munsamy)
THIS IS NOW...
Flatfoot Dance Company have edged a name for themselves both locally and internationally. They have conceived acclaimed dance pieces that have won them merit and local audiences have been spoiled this year with works performed at the Durban Botanic Gardens. The open-air venue allows for dance pieces to be enjoyed within the Covid parameters of making theatre and dance.
Their latest offering, The Cleansing, choreographed by the full company is a journey to discover the nexus between human beings and nature, thus making the Botanic Gardens an ideal venue for this dance work. The sun setting, birds settling in their nest, frogs croaking and a crickets chirping are the sounds and sights as you are invited into this dance work.
The space is demarcated as a theatre in the round and is lit with basic but effective lighting with the adage of an evocative colour palette up-lighting a tree that had costumes hung from it like fruit. The African Contemporary Dance technique is beautifully crafted within this round space.
The group synchronisation was mesmerising as the dancers invoked rituals to find movement. The show features the slamming rhymes of EWOK Robinson, who opens the show with free, live rhymes, while the dancers include Sifiso Khumalo, January Siphika, Zinhle Nzama, Mthoko Mkhwanazi, Sbonga Ndlovu, Siseko Duba and Ndumiso Dube.
I marvelled most in the ritual aspect of the show, which offered the audience a cleaning at the end. We often get bogged down in our work and lives that we forget our connection to the Earth.
The Cleansing reminds us that our roots go deeper than we know. We are so busy standing in lines and following our monotonous routines that we sometimes forget to breathe and allow our inner dance to surface. The blindfolded sequence reminds us to let go of our fears and trust our roots to hold us firm. I thrilled in the message to shut out the world and keep moving metaphorically and literally. - Verne Rowin Munsamy
For more information, visit https://flatfootdancecompany.webs.com/
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