Twitter is the one of the new shows to hit the Joburg Ballet stage in September, along with a number of other productions that will be brought to life for the first time in the ballet theatre’s showcase Celebration 7.
This piece is choreographed by international ballet dancer, Juan Carlos Hernández Osma from Cuba. As a budding choreographer, he wanted to create something meaningful and relevant which shows his unique style of dance.
“South Africa’s contemporary style is very defined, and I don’t do that – I do my style, Juan Carlos style,” explained Osma.
“It’s a mix of all I learned during my time in Cuba and touring the world.”
The choreographer explained that by creating this piece, he wanted to show the world that Twitter, as a social media platform, can be ‘the worst thing ever’. It distracts people from the real world and allows them to exist in a virtual reality.
The show starts with a woman and her partner, a man obsessed with his digital life, and they face the challenge of maintaining a relationship in the digital age. The man performs with a blue phone in hand – representative of the blue Twitter bird – and continually rejects the affection of his partner who is not as taken by social media as he is.
“It’s about Twitter stealing your precious moments,” said Osma.
Society is also depicted in the show which, Osma admits, is very fast, much like the speed at which the internet evolves. The message of the dance is to remind the public that time is fleeting and it is important to live in the moment, rather than online.
An interesting show to watch, it is bound to leave the audience thinking.
Twitter will be performed on 4, 5, 8 and 12 September at the Joburg Theatre.
Details: www.joburgtheatre.com
