For its second season at the Masque Theatre, the Cape Dance Company (CDC), proudly celebrating its 15th year, will present a programme of new works by acclaimed South African & International choreographers, namely Gregory Maqoma, Mamela Nyamza and Carlos dos Santos, to name a few. The eclectic style of the choreographies showcases the technical excellence and artistry of this athletic and cutting edge dance company.
Allesverloren…Alles Niet Verloren, (All Is Lost, All Is Not Lost) is a new work created by Carlos dos Santos, a world renowned Brazilian/American choreographer and master teacher. For this piece, dos Santos was inspired by current world events – disasters, tremors, volcanoes and wars. He says, “people think they are alone, and people think alone. We live in an individualistic, materialistic, insanely competitive world, one that prays at the altar of celebrity, perfection, possession & financial reward”. Dos Santos is an artist who conveys his ideas through dance as his chosen form of expression and it is one of the ways to express his attitudes to the world and how we can save it. “If we remove ourselves from our comfort zone and concern ourselves with the continued life of our planet, all will then not be lost.” Like Water…. , also by dos Santos, is a contemporary classical quartet that suggests the ebb and flow of constantly moving water as a metaphor for the constantly changing and evolving life of an artist. This engaging work showcases the technical virtuosity and strength of the ladies of the CDC.
In addition, the performance includes Kitty Phetla’s quirky Soukora (At Night!), which has a light and playful, flirtatious quality suggesting a dance of fire-flies in the African night. Gregory Maqoma’s pulsing, organic work, Molo Wethu, has an earthy Euro-African style with undulating torso movements and a distinctive energetic quality of dance, a trademark of this well-loved dance company. Gladius (Sword), originally created as a solo, has been extended into a full work by Debbie Turner, the Artistic Director of the CDC and the Cape Academy of Performing Arts (CAPA), one of the City’s top training institutions established by Turner 25 years ago. Gladius explores the life of the gladiator who ultimately has to look death in the eye and it incorporates edgy, staccato movement coupled with a powerful electronic score keeps the audience riveted with subliminal feelings of anxiety, fear and ultimately, resignation.
The Cape Dance Company performances run at the Masque Theatre on 15,16,17 June at 7:30pm, 18 June at 6pm and 19 June at 3pm. Tickets cost from R45 to R80 with special offers for Masque Theatre members and all bookings via the Masque on 021 788 1898.
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