With THE SACRIFICE, Masilo and the dancers are engaged in the study of Tswana dance. Not just the dance, but the rituals. The dance form is native to the country of Botswana and is unique, rhythmic and expressive; at times used for storytelling and healing. “With all my training in dance, I have never until with this work, studied Tswana movement, which is the culture of my heritage. So, in creating THE SACRIFICE, I want to explore ritual, what sacrifice meant to the Tswana people then and what it means now,” said Masilo.
Running from 01 to 12 April, the 2022 iteration of Kucheza Afrika Festival guarantees a 100% return of LIVE on-stage performances with audiences, following last year’s hybrid (live and online) installment which occurred under limiting COVID-19 restrictions. the programme is themed to “celebrate artists for their resilience in the face of adversity” brought on by the pandemic, which saw the arts sector hardest hit, leaving scores of artists unable to practice.
Masilo is added to a lively dance programme comprising of seasoned artists such as Vincent Mantsoe, whose 30-year dance career anniversary will be celebrated with his works KOMA and BARENA; Luyanda Sidiya bringing his trilogy: SIVA, UMNIKELO, AMAWETHU; 2021 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner Kristi-Leigh Gresse recreating ENCRYPTION, Gregory Maqoma bringing back KETIMA; and Thami Tshabalala presenting ISENYOSO, to list a few.
New dates for shows
Under the Main Programme, performance dates for Gas Lands choreographed by Bailey Snyman have changed from 08 and 09 to 03 and 04 April. The work is a poetic meditation on the displacement of people due to war, trafficking and migration in the 21st century, set in a dystopian future that oscillates between its present and our history. It is a statement on resilience in the face of adversity.
KONTROLLER by emerging Choreographer Muzi Shili, who is showcasing under the Young Artists Programme, will also show on 03 and 04 April. The piece challenges the status of political control. In it, power and time are intertwined and take audiences on a controlled gestural movement of hip hop and pantsula to contemporary fusion of cultures.
More masterclasses to attend:
Vincent Mantsoe – Koba, 31 March 2022.
Luyanda Sidiya, 02 April.
Thabiso Qwabe – Arts Admin, 04 April.
Thami Tshabalala – Contemporary, 06 April.
Oscar Buthelezi – Afro Fusion, 08 April.
Bailey Snyman, 09 April.
Inspired by the Swahili word for dance, Kucheza Afrika Festival aims to be a platform that will help preserve dance in the country and in Africa and ensure that dancers always have a home at the State Theatre. The festival is SAST’s aspiration to continue serving domestic and continental dance communities, as well as a call to action for Africa to converge as one in its diversity.
TICKET INFORMATION: Kucheze Afrika Festival tickets range from R80 to R150 at Webtickets- available online, Pick n Pay and the State Theatre.
DOWNLOAD FULL PROGRAMME https://statetheatre.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kucheza-Programme.pdf
IMAGES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vq5kfqhh8xhdqrz/AAC3M-Mm8ytb6Jlc_QKBC-8Ga?dl=0
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Issued by the South African State Theatre
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