Pantsula legends to form a forum
Pantsula dance legends held a special meeting at the Katlehong Art Centre on September 14.
According to Bheki Nkosi, the legends’ spokesperson, the purpose of the meeting was to form a forum that is going to represent the East and West Rand. They also aim to later represent dancers from South Africa as a whole.
He said the forum will discuss problems that are affecting and destroying the pantsula dance style, culture and language and find ways to revive a dance that was very popular in 1987.
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“Pantsula dance started in the East Rand, Thokoza and Vosloorus in 1986 and later spread to the West Rand. As the dance legends from both regions, we have decided to form a forum that is going to revive our dance style, culture and language.
“In order to revive the dance, we started visiting different schools to interact with children. Learners are keen to know more about the dance. They even want to know more about the background, as well as how pantsula dancers dress up,” said Nkosi.
He said the forum will host dialogues to educate the community about its language.
“We do not want people to see pantsula dancers as criminals. We want them to understand us for who we are, our language and our appearance.
“Other than dialogues, we will have shows where we will invite people to come in their numbers to watch and have the current crop of dancers perform under our watchful eyes. We want to return the vibe of the 1980s so that young people will not get bored and end up committing crime. We will also have an award ceremony for pantsula dancers,” Nkosi told Kathorus MAIL.
He added that they are planning to bring back women to be part of the dance, since they were a part of it a long time ago.
DaPat Lekhobane, Gift Motshabi, Knowledge Hlongwane and Oupa Molaba from Katlehong and Bheki Nkosi, Mandla Sibaya, Thabo Nkosi, and Fanyana Mhlanga from Vosloorus represent the East Rand on the forum.
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West Rand is represented by Scelo ‘Malume’ KaXaba and Thabiso Ramahloku from Randfontein and Micado Ranaka from Dobsonville.
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