Students of the arts take a Detour

Now in its second year, the Detours festival aims to discover new avenues in movement composition.

The works that are produced by various choreographers and performers are exploratory in nature, with the intention of inspiring a new vision of the body in the performing arts. Each of the performances can range from solo performances, to collaborations, as well as ensembles.

The nature of the pieces are very moving and often deal with issues that South African’s deal with on a daily basis.

Definitely intended to make a statement, the first performance for the evening, by Oupa Sibeko, was done in complete silence – quite an uncomfortable experience to watch a person perform an interpretive dance without music.

Another performance by Finch Thusi in collaboration with musician Mpho Zetina Mosia, was deeply moving and showed the efforts of a young man trying to get through to his strong and proud mother – an issue that is prevalent in any culture.

The third performance by Themba Mbuli was a deeply moving tale about the struggle faced by the late struggle icon, Nelson Mandela.

Despite some technical difficulties at the beginning of his piece, Mbuli pulled through and told a sad and tragic story through his medium – the body.

The final piece was performed by an ensemble of Wits University students with the help of guest choreographer Sunnyboy Motau of Moving Into Dance Mophatong.

It was the final piece that flipped the script and explored the theme of introduction – how to introduce oneself on stage and in life – as the closing performance. It allowed the performers to explain, through movement, how introductions are perceived.

The show ran at the Wits Downstairs Theatre from 13 to 18 May.

Details: 011 717 4646, jane.crewe@wits.ac.za

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