Vuyani Dance Theatre – Cion: Requiem of Ravel’s Bolero

Maqoma began his dance training at Moving Into Dance and went on to PARTS where he studied under Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker. Among others in Europe, he collaborated with such respected Western dance artists as Akram Khan. He has gone on to establish himself as one of South Africa’s leading artists.

Carried by the singing of an African Isicathamiya choir, Cion stands for hope against the darkness, transfixing us with choreography of rhythmic dexterity and ecstatic intensity. Gregory Maqoma embodies professional mourner Toloki ? a character inspired by the protagonist of Zakes Mda’s novels Ways of Dying and Cion. As he confronts a universe in which greed, power and religion lead so often to the trivialization of death and loss, his lament unfolds to Ravel’s Bolero, interpreted here through the stirring device of percussion and voice. Making his third Dance Umbrella appearance since 2015, Maqoma, one of South Africa’s most celebrated artists is joined by eight gifted performers from Vuyani Dance Theatre and four vocalists.

Part of Dance Umbrella