Ngizwise, a Zulu word that means “let me taste/help me listen”, is the culmination of six weeks of gently crafting and honing the dancers’ creative vocal sounds to develop a thought-provoking dance about four men sharing intimate stories of their past and projecting the future.
The performance by South African Sonia Radebe and Canadian Jennifer Dallas performed by the Moving into Dance Mophatong is taking place in Durban at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre as part of the 16th Jomba! Festival on 2 and 3 September.
The hour-long performance sheds light on subjects of community, power, individuality and masculinity in a globalised modern society in a fun yet confrontational manner.
Radebe and Dallas offer a meeting of two dynamic female choreographers and their search for what is common and what is unique in their different styles and cultural contexts.
Ngizwise is a deft and moving meeting between choreographers and dancers – cross-cultural, cross continent — as they begin to reveal the intimate stories of South Africa and the voices of the “born-free generation”.
Radebe began dancing at primary school, and then performed with Arco Community Dance Theatre which made TV appearances in shows such as Ngomqibelo and Shell Road to Fame. She is now a well-known dancer, with many awards to her name.
These include the Gauteng MEC Award for most outstanding performance of a female dancer in contemporary style in 2008, Dance Manyano Female Dancer of the Decade in 2010, and she was named at one of the Mail and Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans to watch in 2013.
Radebe is currently a senior dancer, choreographer and teacher at Moving into Dance Mophatong and for their national outreach. She graduated from the MIDM Community Dance Teachers Course in 2002 and joined the company the following year.
During her time with MIDM she has performed both nationally and internationally in countries such as USA, Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark and Zimbabwe.
Jennifer Dallas is currently the resident costume designer for The School of Toronto Dance Theatre. In 2008, she founded Kẹmi Contemporary Dance Projects. Kẹmi is the name bestowed upon her by her mentor in Lagos Nigeria meaning “she who takes care of us”.
MIDM Company dancers performing Ngizwise are Oscar Buthelezi, Teboho Gilbert Letele, Sunnboy Motau and Muzi Shili. Teboho Letele is also taking charge of the music.
Nadia Virasamy CEO of MIDM said “Ngizwise is a wonderful, welcome addition to MIDM Company’s repertoire”, while Sylvia ‘Magogo’ Glasser MIDM founder said “This beautifully crafted, imaginative work is full of delightful and evocative surprises”.
Tickets cost R60 or R45 for scholars/students/pensioners. Book through Computicket (or at venue from one hour before).
