I MUST have been one of the last people to see this show. After the initial hype and rush around Thabo Rapoo's dance show, Batsumi, I joined others.

The full house at this performance, and almost sold-out for the afternoon, proved that this dance show was a masterpiece.

The show lived up to expectations. Batsumi can go down in the history of the National Arts Festival as one of the best shows on offer this year.

To say that this dance piece is powerful is an understatement. Towards the end of the last scene several people around me were very emotional - some even shed tears.

When was the last time you saw that?

Batsumi is a multi-disciplinary work that integrates song, dance, acting and live music: it speaks about men being the hunters and women the gatherers.

It enacts the stages of trance that men go through before and after hunting; and highlights the challenges they must face in order to provide for their families.

It is said that for as long as the history of hunters is written and told by the hunters themselves, their stories will favour those hunters for generations to come.

It's a combination of energetic and breathtaking jazz moves.

There is that soul and connection to the choreography. From the first minute you are presented with this breathtaking dance and beautiful music.

Performers Faith Maseko, Sonia Radebe, Thandi Tshabalala, Thembi Setiabi, Muzi Shili, Fana Tshabalala and Sonnyboy Mandla Motau gave a splendid performance.

From a gentle tip-tap like the murmuring patter of spring rain to thunder-crack jumps, Rapoo has the ability to merge the music with the dance moves.

The music is played well and the percussion is added to the mix to make a beautiful sound to listen to.

Rapoo, the 2009 winner of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance, has grown as a professional, judging by his production, Batsumi.