New Dance continues to bring fresh talent to the stage, and Indian dance is showcased.
? The current festival of Indian culture, Shared History, rounds off this week with a dance piece titled Rhythm Divine. Internationally acclaimed dance luminary Astaad Deboo creates a seamless blend of the avant-garde with traditional movement. The press literature tells us that thang-ta, (“the art of the sword and spear”) is a dance form that has ben adapted from the martial arts practices of Manipur in North East India. The work apparently “records the traces and clues of things to come” and is both ritualistic and meditative. The performance, like the Shared History programme, takes place under the Arts Alive 2011 Festival banner.
The Dance Factory, President Street, Newtown, from September 20 to 22 at 8pm. Tickets cost R60. Book at Computicket. For Arts Alive updates, visit: www.artsalive.co.za.
? Johannesburg’s alternative dance festival, New Dance, ends on a high note this weekend with two mixed bills of varied works by choreographers at different stages of their careers. On September 16 at 7.30pm, watch Programme Seven, which includes Jayespri Moopen’s not always successful brand of fusion dance (African dance mixed with Indian dance). Also on the programme is the remarkable Sbo Ndaba, a past winner of a prestigious DaimlerChrysler award. On September 17 and 18 at 7.30pm, see the mixed bill titled Programme Eight that includes works by Sonia Radebe, Sunnyboy Motau, Lucky Kele and Thabo Rapoo. Don’t miss the wildly radical Swiss-based choreographer La Ribot on September 17 at 2.30pm with her gallery piece (meaning the audience does not sit formally) titled Laughing Hole.
The Dance Factory, President Street, Newtown, and Goethe on Main, Main Street, Johannesburg, until September 18. Tel: 011 492 2030. For programme details visit: www.artslink.co.za/arts