Sun Dance

Synopsis

An international cast of 36 dancers, singers and musicians celebrate the brilliant colours and vibrant music of Africa in a display of ceremonial dances, rituals and initiation ceremonies, all played out to the hypnotic throb of the African Drum. Patti Boulaye's Sun Dance centres on the sensitivity of African Woman and her progress through life from birth to death, mirrored and expressed by ceremonial dance at every stage. With settings as diverse as the deserts of the north to the equatorial forest of the east and west to the central African plains and the waterfalls of the south, taking in all the seasons, it includes virile young warriors preparing for battle, female Amazonian warriors, legends and folklore, the Priestess, the Goddess, Witchdoctor, death and lamentation... the very essence of Africa.

Our Review:

19 May 2005

Patti Boulaye puts her name not just above the title but actually within it for Patti Boulaye's Sun Dance. It’s probably no false modesty, just a statement of fact that confirms this as being entirely a vanity project: Boulaye is not just the show’s star but is also credited as being responsible for the book, music and lyrics (with additional material from three others). She’s additionally co-producer, co-choreographer, and costume designer of something that she’s been trying to bring to the stage for the last decade.

Clearly, Boulaye has put her heart and soul into this; it’s a pity that the result lacks much of either. For, though Sun Dance is clearly a labour of love (and ego) for her and a labour of tremendous energy for the 24-strong cast that joins her on stage, it’s also a labour of considerable effort to sit through.

Not so much a musical as a cultural pageant of tribal African customs and dancing, the show lacks bot...

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