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NZ PREMIERE.
For the first time in New Zealand, internationally renowned South
African dancer and choreographer Gregory Maqoma performs
Beautiful Me, a solo piece that has mesmerised audiences
with its blend of unlikely dance elements - Michael Jackson's
moonwalk, contemporary Indian kathak and Afro-fusion.
Calling himself a "cultural cocktail", Maqoma mixes it
up. An eclectic range of instruments including the sitar, cello,
violin and percussion produce live backing music in response to his
staccato movements.These are blended with songs, chants, and the
clicking of the Zulu language Xhosa to entrancing effect. Maqoma's
performance takes audiences on an extraordinary journey, leading
them through difficult periods of great social and political change
in recent African history, but always returning them to the
personal. He becomes a moving portrait representing the emotions,
histories and traditions which inform his life.
In Beautiful Me Maqoma worked with three contemporaries,
choreographers Akram Khan (UK), Faustin Linyekula (Congo) and
Vincent Mantsoe (South Africa). An exciting opportunity to
experience one of the most fascinating and interesting facets of
the FranceDanse programme.
Beautiful Me is presented as part of
FranceDanse 2011, four choreographers supported in their Auckland
performances by the Institut Francais.
Master
Class: Creating Dance with Gregory Maqoma
Sunday 6 March, 10:00am - 12:00pm
In Conversation:
Tuesday 8th March
Gregory Maqoma speaks about
Beautiful Me
PHOTOGRAPH:
John
Hogg
FRANCEDANSE NEW ZEALAND 2011 -
INSTITUT FRANCAIS
Through its initiatives within France and beyond its borders,
through bilateral operations with countries, through its
development activities especially on the African continent and in
the Caribbean region, Culturesfrance is committed to establishing
long term and equitable relations amongst the world's
cultures. Culturesfrance dance department focuses on touring
companies and choreographers throughout the world, ensuring their
presence at festivals and in the international spotlight.
Since 2007, eight FranceDanse projects have been launched
across Europe, Canada, Russia and China creating the opportunity
for partnerships to develop and present a diversity of styles and
aesthetics in the dance
field.
With support
from
vuyani.co.za/
REVIEWS
"The music is both sophisticated and spirited, the
dance extraordinary, the whole communicative, personal and
intelligent. Maqoma can truly lay claim to the title, Beautiful
Me."
- NZ Herald (NZ) Read the full review
online.
"Once you have seen Maqoma … his torso twisting, his feet
stamping out an obsessive rhythm, he is not easy to
forget"
- San Franciso Chronicle (USA)
"engaging and deeply textured"
- Seattle Dances (USA)