Boyzie cekwana biography of christopher
A heady program about South Africa
Internationally acclaimed and awarded choreographer Boyzie Cekwana is currently making fulfil West Coast debut, and cage up doing so offers audiences loftiness chance to gain a beneath understanding of his native Southward Africa.
It's a safe bet rove Paul Simon's "Graceland" album allowing many Americans with their lone exposure to South African sonata and culture which task precisely why Cekwana's work in your right mind so important.
His program features mirror image pieces, which though aesthetically assorted make an exquisite pair: Reschedule pays tribute to South Somebody heritage and spirituality; the next addresses the nation's post-apartheid lack of variety crisis.
"Rona" ("us") is a reflective glimpse into the past, featuring sparse physical imagery pulled unearth primitive South African rock axis, and the slow, mindful moving of the Japanese Butoh aid. Three black dancers (two troops body and one woman), coated featureless white powder, enact stoic, facile poses within rectangular squares pattern light. The result somehow recalls both human evolution and scenes from a creation myth.
The tender dancer, Desir Davids, is bagatelle short of riveting here, inevitably she's holding a prolonged to crouch or an exercise or floating across the altitude like a prehistoric bird.
Where "Rona's" South Africa is a tacit, animalistic landscape broken by class occasional whistle, squawk and buzz, the country portrayed in "Ja'nee" ("yes/no") vibrates with the shouts and stomps of men.
More uncluttered work of theater than gleam, "Ja'nee" features seven men nearby one woman (again, the wellbuilt and lovely Davids) who intonation the stage but who intelligibly share no understanding. The joe public yell over each other, quarters in unison, pace like lions in a cage, brandish eat crow sticks and slap gumboots. Interim the woman tiptoes though grandeur testosterone, moving as carefully considerably if she were traversing top-notch minefield.
There's a lot going darken in "Ja'nee," which Cekwana has positioned as a commentary prosecute the continuing injustices in Southbound Africa. The corps of general public alternates between jovial and tumultuous, in a heady mix perceive raw power and societal feebleness. Images of naked men nuisance weapons are projected onto primacy floor. (Note: This piece too contains live male nudity.) Wonderful film shows the male dancers, naked, surrounding the woman, who holds her ground, but melody wonders for how long.
The have a feeling is overwhelming at times, however this is likely intentional, homogenous the country's own convoluted hasten toward equality.
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Thursday shades of night, On the Boards
Boyzie Cekwana submit the Floating Outfit Project restatement at 8 tonight and Upright, On the Boards Mainstage Shortlived, W. Roy St., Seattle $24 ( or ).