For Immediate Release
08 April 2022
Dada Masilo’s The Sacrifice cancellation at Kucheza Afrika Festival
The South African State Theatre (SAST) is shocked to learn about the cancelation of Dada Masilo’s participation in the 2022 Kucheza Afrika Festival through the dancer’s Facebook page. To this hour, besides the circulating social media post, the theatre has not received any formal communication about this cancelation, even after failed attempts to reach out to her team to understand their reason(s) for pulling out. This is pure unprofessionalism and disregard for audiences and institutions.
Masilo was scheduled to showcase The Sacrifice this weekend at the festival which opened on 01 April 2022. The theatre apologises to patrons who have already purchased tickets and those who were planning to attend. Ticket holders are advised to contact Webtickets for refund. However, the festival still goes on with other productions summoning everyone’s support. The 10-day dance festival is showcasing 30 performances until 10 April 2022.
Remaining acts include 2021 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner Kristi-Leigh Gresse who debuting a recreated ENCRYPTION on 08 April. The work reflects on “what makes us, what informs our personalities, our politics, and our socio-cohesive behaviour.” Told through movement, images and song, the production is a yearning for understanding self. On the same night, international act Helge Letonja’s DIGGING IN THE NIGHT and Luyanda Sidiya’s SIVA will still take to stage.
Kucheza’s Young Artists programme, a bespoke platform for young choreographers, will feature Teresa Phuti Mojela presenting NGWEDI on 09 and 10 April. The work is a tribute to the late dancer and choreographer Themba Mbuli “who continues to be an inspiration and a soul mover to many artists in the country.” In this category, the SAST provides free infrastructure plus technical support.
AMAWETHU, a spiritually charged piece seeking to reconnect African people with their culture, choreographed by Luyanda Sidiya, will be the one wrapping up the festival with performances on 09 and 10 April.
Kucheza Afrika Festival kicked off its 2022 edition with dance lovers indulging over glaring performances of acclaimed works by seasoned choreographers Gregory Maqoma (Ketima) and Luyanda Sidiya (Umnikelo) on Friday night, 01 April 2022. Marking his 30-year dance career, dance maestro Vincent Mantsoe debuted his latest solo piece KOMA the following night, sharing the stage with Smangaliso Ngwenya who performed BARENA in the absence of David April, who could not perform due to unforeseen circumstances.
Welcoming back audiences and artists to the annual dance festival, SAST’s Artistic Director Aubrey Sekhabi described the two previous years as years of uncertainty as the festival marks the return of 100% live stage performances. “What a privilege to be full-on Live in the 3rd instalment with the celebration of Vincent Koko Sekoati Mantsoe’s 30th anniversary in dance. To have the world-celebrated son of the soil at home, at the Theatre for Africa is a major feat. We are spoilt for choice with both veterans and young artists. The arts are alive! We are alive! We are live!”
Following last year’s hybrid (live and online) instalment, which occurred under limiting COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s 100% LIVE programme celebrates artists for their resilience in the face of adversity brought by the pandemic, which saw the arts sector hit hard, leaving scores of artists unable to fully practice.
Inspired by the Swahili word for dance, Kucheza 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.
For More information, visit the festival’s website on https://www.statetheatre.co.za/kucheza/.
TICKET INFORMATION: Kucheza Afrika Festival tickets range from R80 to R150 at Webtickets available online, Pick n Pay and the SAST.
Download festival programme https://www.dropbox.com/s/rzli4y4okxuib6n/Kucheza22%20programme.pdf?dl=0
FOR SOCIAL MEDIA: Official hashtags #AfrikaDance #ChezaAfrika
Follow& tag SAST on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram & YouTube on @sastatetheatre
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Issued by the South African State Theatre
For media enquiries contact:
Thakgatso Setseta, Publicist
E-mail: thakgatso@statetheatre.co.za /Call: 078 823 3596