(Above: KwaMashu School of Dance Theatre perform at JOMBA!. Choreography Vusi Makanya)
The three pieces overall were perfectly executed and brought much jubilation to the audiences. I was memorised by the technical execution of dance, the diverse styles and rhythms and the strength and stamina of the dancers. (Review by Dr Verne Rowin Munsamy)
The Centre for Creative Arts proudly presents six festivals a year and JOMBA! is an acclaimed one that has won several awards for its ground-breaking contributions to theatre and culture.
The Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, nestled in the Howard College Campus has been a proud home for the festival since its inception. Contemporary dance has endured a long history in South Africa. JOMBA! is testament to this genre of dance and this year marks the 26th anniversary of the festival.
One of the longest-running contemporary dance festivals in the world, the festival ignites a passion in artists to create thought-provoking dance works that question aspects of life in a critical manner using the full extent of the human body. This year the theme is Home, questioning what is home and where one belongs and finds a place to call a refuge in light of the displacement that people have felt due to war and genocide, seeking to leave or return to a 'Home'.
My favourite part of the festival is the opening speech delivered by Dr Lliane Loots who holds the title of creative director of the festival. Her provocative word always forces artists out of their comfort zone and makes us see the world with a critical eye and reminds us why we became artists in the first place, to create awareness and challenge through performance.
This year's festival brings artists from Japan, South Africa, France, United States of America, India and Germany together to perform on the same platform. And this year the festival leaves the province to venture to Johannesburg's Market Theatre. This year, special mention was made of Wesley Maherry who has been the Production Manager for 15 years.
Dr Loots, in her speech, asked us to push into the pain to find realignment. A statement that speaks true to many artists who challenge social norms despite the painful repercussions that follow.
The three dance pieces of the night were presented by Cape Town based company, Jazz Art, who celebrated 50 years of existence in 2023. The first piece, costumed in a warn orange colour, showcased the sophisticated synchronisation of the company. It represents the notion of what it means to be South African with our diverse multicultural nation and exemplified the notion of finding our roots. It embodied the warm and inviting caress of home.
The second piece, in warm brown earthy tones depicted grounded movement that place the audience in thoughts of home as a foundation for us to leap towards our dreams and goals. The amalgamation of several dance forms reminded us of the unison that is discovered in our rainbow nation.
The final piece concretised the harmonious synergy between the seven dancers on stage. The black costumes symbolised the darkness that sometime exists in our homes. The three pieces overall were perfectly executed and brought much jubilation to the audiences. I was memorised by the technical execution of dance, the diverse styles and rhythms and the strength and stamina of the dancers. This certainly was a great opening to the 13-day festival.
As usual, the festival takes place in several locations and also offers workshops for the public to attend. I certainly hope that the festival is well supported and that we all relish in the critical dance that pushes boundaries and allows us to find healing through dance. - Dr Verne Rowin Munsamy