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| photo: Val Adamson |
Whilst discussing art, a friend of mine
said that the role of the artist was to feel - to feel so completely that they
took on the burden of ‘feeling’ for the world. He said that art allowed people
to see their own feelings through the eyes of the artist without having the
pain of going there themselves. I came home from the opening of the SA Women’s Arts Festival
last night feeling emotionally vulnerable. I made myself a cup of rooibos and
honey (that is what my mom used to do for me) and popped a Bella Jo lasagne in
the oven (that is the closest thing to a home-cooked meal I had) and sat down
to write about my amazing night of dance.
I was privileged enough to watch Imvula/Hope which is part of the double dance bill featuring Flatfoot Dance Company's Hope and The Playhouse Dance Residency’s Imvula which was choreographed by the
award winning Christopher Kindo.
The show began with a moving piece of
choreography with music played live by Shannon Hope. For me this was one of the
best Flatfoot pieces of recent years. I am such a huge fan of the company that
anything they do is really remarkable. This piece showed a sensitive, more
feminine side to the company that I haven’t seen in a while. Their work often
leans towards a more serious persuasion but this piece was also a lot more
playful, even interactive at times.
The second piece of dance was the first I
had seen by this relatively new company. The dancers were so technically skilful,
although their performance lacked a sincerity that I had seen in the first
half. That was what I thought until I saw the second act which I am told was a
tribute to a young dancer from the company who had died suddenly. Within the
first few minutes I felt fragile and vulnerable. The piece showed an organic circle
of life where the dancers evolved from crude forms into tribes of people.
Indicative of the life that they had just lost, it showed a kind of organic
fragility which was so human I could not help but get caught up in the beauty
of the piece. I was in absolute tears by the end – I mean ugly tears, not the womanly
sob one would find from a lady.
Needless to say – you need to get to see
this amazing piece of art - the artists took me to that ‘feeling’ place. And if
you’re not into that ‘feely’ stuff, then go anyway because it is lovely to go
to the theatre and watch beautiful people dance.
The SA Women’s Festival runs from the 8th
till the 17th August. The Imvula/ Hope double bill will be showing
at The Drama Theatre, Playhouse on the 8th; 10th; and 11th
August at 3:30pm and 7:30pm. Tickets cost R 80 or R 35 for students. Contact Box
Office at (031) 369 9596/9540 or Computicket at 083 915 8000
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