FROM: Tonight, Pretoria News, The Star
Don't conform: The emancipation of the individual
November 13, 2007
By Pinto Ferreira
Vibrations
Director: Mandla Mcunu
Cast: Tshwane Dance Theatre & Kmad.com
Venue: The Breytenbach Theatre
When: November 8 -10
The weekend Pretoria's two professional contemporary dance companies, Tshwane Dance Theatre, under the directorship of Mandla Mcunu, and Kelsey Middleton's Kmad.com presented a collaborative programme of four new choreographic works. The programme consisted of three works for TDT - Carpe Diem by Sifiso Kweyama, Us by Marie Brolin-Tani and Pale by Gregory Maqoma. Kmad.com performed Life, choreographed by Kelsey Middleton and Mieke Swanepoel. The theme of all four works centred around social significance - fostering individuality amidst conforming to society, sharing life as a significant experience, experiencing the diversity of possible relationships and, alas, alienation as an inevitable reality. Maqoma is a fascinating choreo- grapher. Side stepping over statements as well as hackneyed movement trends, he speaks through meaningful ambience that clearly and effortlessly carries messages across . In its non-dance simplicity Maqoma's movement is expressively honest. Within his own language the detail of his work is hypnotically magnetic. It is this type of work by this type of choreographer that can propel TDT out of an often laboured repertoire into an accessible and prominent company. Middleton is rocketing her company into an entirely new stature. Her latest work is bold, focused, non-cliché and entertaining. This twice Vita Award-winning dancer's work is completely underexposed. In her work Life she showcases her new graduates and company intakes. The company is by far more superior than the previous one. Apart from the dancers' technical prowess and unique expressive abilities, they work as one unified force that is, especially in this work, spellbinding. Jeannette Ziady in the leading role produces a riveting performance. One hopes these works will be seen by Joburg audiences - it is award-winning stuff.
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"Dance for yourself, if someone understands good. If not then no matter, go right on doing what you love." ~Lois Hurst
Have you recently attended a KMAD Show?
"The Dancer believes that his art has something to say which cannot be expressed in words or in any other way than by dancing... there are times when the simple dignity of movement can fulfill the function of a volume of words. There are movements which impinge upon the nerves with a strength that is incomparable, for movement has power to stir the senses and emotions, unique in itself. This is the dancer's justification for being, and his reason for searching further for deeper aspects of his art." ~Doris Humphrey, 1937
We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness, we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers, we create the dreams...
Dancing appears glamorous, easy, delightful. But the path to paradise of the achievement is not easier than any other. There is fatigue so great that the body cries, even in its sleep. There are times of complete frustration, there are daily small deaths. Martha Graham
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