Tag: Show

  • South Africa: Choreographer Explores Sacrifice in Spellbinding Show

    South Africa: Choreographer Explores Sacrifice in Spellbinding Show

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    “The Sacrifice” by South African choreographer Dada Masilo is a fusion of contemporary dance and a ritual dance from Botswana, known as Tswana. Inspired by the innovative rhythms of Igor Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” she has brought together twelve dancers and four musicians for the Avignon Festival, 2022.

    Born and raised in the Johannesburg township of Soweto, dancer and choreographer Dada Masilo is known for merging classical techniques with African dance steps to create a unique style.

    Her latest creation “The Sacrifice” was performed as part of the Avignon international theatre festival in July, 2022.

    She was inspired by “The Rite of Spring”, written by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky in 1913 for Sergei Diaghilev’s Russian Ballet company.

    Originally choreographed by Vaslav Nijinskyt, it depicts various primitive rituals celebrating the advent of spring, after which a young girl is chosen as a sacrifice and dances herself to death. Its première in Paris caused a stir, due to its avant-garde nature.

    “I have always liked to mix dances from different cultures. These encounters between cultures sometimes oppose each other,” she told journalist Moïra Dalant for the Avignon Festival, adding that she gets inspiration from that contrast.

    “I titled my work “The Sacrifice” because the piece questions the choice we must make collectively of who or what will be sacrificed.”

    Masilo explains that this concept resonates with the principle of the collective in the Tswana ritual dance from Botswana which is used for many occasions – from weddings to funerals or in healing ceremonies.