CELEBRATED choreographer Nelisiwe Xaba epitomises South Africa's remarkable contribution to contemporary dance in the world.
Intelligent and authoritative on dance, Xaba is outspoken on the state of the arts in the country.
Xaba has made a name for herself internationally and is particularly well-known in France. This year she is taking Uncles and Angels to Joburg's Dance Umbrella, the popular contemporary dance festival.
"On the surface Uncle and Angelsis about virginity testing. But virginity testing is just a metaphor for traditions in general. The piece tackles how traditions, including African traditions, Catholic traditions and Western traditions, often land on a collision course with modernism," she said.
The work is a collaboration between Xaba and Mocke J van Veuren, who has created a video installation for the piece. The two seem to be at ease with each other, often an elusive attribute among choreographers, who are more at ease creating work individually.
They agree it is not always easy for two artists to work together, especially in dance, a highly individual endeavour in which the choreographer and their work often have an intimate relationship - not always that accommodating to third parties.
Xaba said she was aware that South African choreographers sometimes produced pieces that "leave the audience way behind".
"I create work that can be appreciated by both the sophisticated dance audience and the ordinary person," she said.
Uncles and Angels will be staged at the Goodman Gallery Arts Project at Arts on Main in central Johannesburg on February 17, 18 and 19.
Taking on tradition
CELEBRATED choreographer Nelisiwe Xaba epitomises South Africa's remarkable contribution to contemporary dance in the world.
Intelligent and authoritative on dance, Xaba is outspoken on the state of the arts in the country.
Xaba has made a name for herself internationally and is particularly well-known in France. This year she is taking Uncles and Angels to Joburg's Dance Umbrella, the popular contemporary dance festival.
"On the surface Uncle and Angelsis about virginity testing. But virginity testing is just a metaphor for traditions in general. The piece tackles how traditions, including African traditions, Catholic traditions and Western traditions, often land on a collision course with modernism," she said.
The work is a collaboration between Xaba and Mocke J van Veuren, who has created a video installation for the piece. The two seem to be at ease with each other, often an elusive attribute among choreographers, who are more at ease creating work individually.
They agree it is not always easy for two artists to work together, especially in dance, a highly individual endeavour in which the choreographer and their work often have an intimate relationship - not always that accommodating to third parties.
Xaba said she was aware that South African choreographers sometimes produced pieces that "leave the audience way behind".
"I create work that can be appreciated by both the sophisticated dance audience and the ordinary person," she said.
Uncles and Angels will be staged at the Goodman Gallery Arts Project at Arts on Main in central Johannesburg on February 17, 18 and 19.
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