Soweto Theatre turns up the heat
09-06-2015
The Soweto Theatre has lined up a dance extravaganza to chase away the winter woollies and get residents tapping their feet, swinging their hips, clicking their fingers and nodding their heads to the beat.
The heat will be turned on, music will be pumping and hearts will be pulsating for one night only when four of South Africa’s leading choreographers and their Geneva Ballet counterpart stage High Five: Choreographic Encounters on Saturday June 13.
The show mixes the best of Mzansi with the best of Europe. The experience, choreographed by four talented South Africans – Gregory Maqoma, Mamela Nyamza, PJ Sabbaqha and Fana Tshabalala – and Frenchman Nathaniel Marie of the Geneva Ballet, takes lovers of human movement on a journey that starts at the Cradle of Humankind and blissfully ends in Europe’s leading capitals.
The enthralling spectacle of dance, daring, danger and delight will mesmerise patrons. So make sure you block out June 13 on your diary if you live for dance.
To wet dance lovers’ appetite, Biko’s Quest, a soul-stirring rendition of consciousness, kicks off on Thursday June 11. Biko’s Quest is an 80-minute piece, narrated and performed through song, dance, dialogues and multimedia to tug at people’s heartstrings. This well-crafted production, which wraps up on Friday June 19, transports theatre lovers on a journey of memory and discovery.
Not only does it honour Black Consciousness leader Steve Biko as a liberation icon who gave his life for the freedom of all South Africans, it also celebrates and pays tribute to him in an explosive mixture of sound, sight and spoken word to a life well lived. Biko’s Quest is directed by Artscape artistic director Mandla Mbothwe and choreographed by the dynamic team comprising Jacqueline Manyapelo, Ina Wichterich and Mzokuthula Gasaunder.
For patrons needing a double dose of all things dance and wishing to attend both High Five and Biko’s Quest shows on Saturday, tickets will be sold at a discounted amount of R130. The show starts at 6pm.
Soweto Theatre closes the curtain with fast-paced isipantsula and isibhujwa dance performances in the form of the Dlala Mapantsula Annual Festival from June 26-28. Tickets for the festival are available on Soweto Theatre’s website www.sowetotheatre.com or on (011) 930-7461/2/3. They cost only R50 for a day pass and R80 for a weekend pass.
Soweto Theatre is sure to keep you fired up this winter!