Exploring human emotions and fusing dance cultures - The Sacrifice is not one to miss...
Fancy something completely original this March? The Sacrifice, the boundary-pushing, critically-acclaimed contemporary dance sensation from Dada Masilo, might be just the ticket.
Taking over the Royal Concert Hall on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 March, this fusion of genres is inspired by two seminal works - Igor Stravinsky’s monumental score and Pina Bausch’s dancework The Rite of Spring - and is coming to the UK for the very first time.
But if you’re not an expert in contemporary dance, don’t worry - this is an event that everyone can enjoy.
Whether you want to smile or cry, feel inspired or reflective, this stunning show will undoubtedly be for you, exploring every human emotion under the sun. “For me, contemporary dance gives me more freedom to explore not just movement vocabulary or creativity, but emotional freedom within the movement as well. I like to fuse different dance forms in my work because it gives it more dynamism,” choreographer Masilo explains. “Dance is an effective art form because it allows you to express your thoughts and emotions through movement. I would love for the people to feel joy, humour, pain, grief and healing.”
I wanted to explore ritual, what sacrifice meant to the Tswana people then and what it means now
As well as offering this emotional depth, The Sacrifice is a groundbreaking cultural and artistic work for its retelling of classic stories so they speak to black identity and feminism - with Soweto-born Masilo channelling the uniquely rhythmic and expressive movements of Tswana, the traditional dance of Botswana which is often used in storytelling and healing ceremonies.
At the piece’s heart is the epic struggle of the sacrificial victim, danced by Masilo herself. “I wanted to explore ritual, what sacrifice meant to the Tswana people then and what it means now,” she says. “Narrative is very important to me. I wanted to create a story that is deeper than a chosen maiden dancing herself to death.”
Masilo is joined by an all-South African cast who will perform to an original score composed by violinist Leroy Mapholo, pianist Nathi Shongwe and opera and gospel choir singer Ann Masina, who also plays a powerful goddess figure - with these tunes delivered live on stage.
So, for a night of mind-blowing dance routines, stunning songs and raw emotions, get yourself down to Theatre Square later this month.
Tickets to Dada Masilo’s The Sacrifice are now available online
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