Curated around the experiences of women, five KwaZulu-Natal dance groups will come together to explore human emotions and some of the difficult realities confronting women today, including gender-based violence (GBV), human trafficking and abuse at the Rehab KZN Women's Dance Festival.
Stories of survival, sisterhood and the search for identity will take centre stage when the dancers from across KwaZulu-Natal come together for the festival at the Playhouse Loft Theatre on August 30 at 3pm.
While the dancers loosely interrogate the theme of “Rehab”, the process of recovery and rehabilitation towards a normal life, the performances offer a message of hope, resilience and renewal.
The project, which curated around the experiences of women, is the initiative of dancer, Mandisa Ndlovu. It is also supported by Lucky Cele in partnership with Ulozolo Youth Organisation.
Through her career in dance and her own life experiences, Ndlovu has dedicated herself to creating opportunities for women to find their voices and tell their stories through movement.
"To mark women's month, celebrate women's empowerment and remember the women who were killed because of gender based violence, I decided to put together a dance production.
"It also touches on the struggles faced by the LGBTQIA+ community," said Ndlovu.
The dancers and soloists were selected through an open audition and come from communities across KwaZulu-Natal, such as Umlazi and KwaMashu.
Ndlovu and Cele are currently travelling to each group separately to spend time working with them and rehearsing them in their own community spaces.
Each group is creating a distinct dance narrative centred on women’s stories and lived experiences. Contemporary dance forms the foundation of much of the programme, but audiences can expect an eclectic mix of styles, including hip hop and traditional dance. Some performances will also incorporate live music.
Ndlovu said each group will begin their performance with the narration of a poem.
“There is so much talent throughout the province, but it seldom comes together for the different groups to work with and appreciate fellow dancers from other regions. We were surprised that the standard of dancing was so high, and the routines are already so polished.
“The first time we hosted a similar festival, we were astonished how evolved, professional, polished and mature the pieces were. We were excited too to learn of the different stories being told through dance, many difficult subjects are being looked at,” said Ndlovu.
The project is supported by the National Arts Council (NAC). Entry is FREE.
For audiences, it promises an afternoon where dance becomes more than entertainment: a vehicle for women’s voices, a space for difficult stories and, ultimately, a celebration of resilience.
taschica.pillay@nationalmg.co.za