“CrashDance” explodes on UJ Arts Centre Stage

The audience at the world premiere of internationally-acclaimed French choreographer extraordinaire Redha’s ‘CrashDance’ jumped to their feet as the lights faded on the huge circular cage in which the dancers hung suspended and lifeless in mid-air at the end of the performance. The applause just went on and on and on until, eventually the great master took a rare bow on stage. It was also his birthday! See video extracts at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6_VOMaBpHw

It is when an audience lingers in a foyer after a performance, chatting excitedly, that one knows instinctively that the experience will loiter in the collective memory for many years to come. It has happened in South Africa’s dance world before: When I was 13 years old in 1967, the ballet ‘Raka’ premiered at the Civic Theatre, now renamed the Joburg Theatre. Based on the epic 1939 poem by the genial N.P. van Louw and set to 12 tone music by Graham Newcater and the unforgettable choreography of the great Frank Staff, the audience simply could not leave the theatre afterwards. The premier of ‘CrashDance” was very similar and one can only hope that this work also will be filmed and distributed worldwide. At the time, Raka was commissioned by the Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal (PACT) and the ballet proved such a success that it was soon made into an international hit film by 20th Century Fox. There is no reason why ‘CrashDance’ cannot be South Africa’s next international high art sensation.
The opening indeed was a triumphant event and the Tshwane Dance Theatre – seven boys and six girls – after 6 weeks of daily toil, non-stop learning and total devotion, emerged a leaner meaner and world-class company. Esther Nasser, the TDT’s Artistic Director has shown, despite great difficulties and the constant need to trim the budgets, that she still has the flair and impeccable taste to bring to our audiences works that can compete on any stage abroad. Tonight’s offering was right up there with the very best one could wish for.

In this work the dancers are taxed beyond all limits and at times one feels as if all of reality becomes suspended. Over and above a myriad of dancing skills required for the intricate and demanding choreography of this work, the members of the TDT also had to become gymnasts and acrobats!

It is hard to single out any one dancer but, I will be forgiven if I make mention of Mari-Louise Basson. On opening night she also entered her 6th month of pregnancy, while dancing like never before! Of all the dancers she was the one who performed most of the acrobatic work but, then that is not quite so unusual in that she had received master classes directly from her hubby who is one of the world’s greatest trapeze artistes and teaches at the circus school in Toulouse.

Set in a huge circular cage - symbolic of the human cranium - the dancers represent the memories, the experiences, the ideas and the aspirations of both the individual and society. New ideas enter the cage and engage in combat with old ideas; some ideas and thoughts merge to create fresh insights and other ideas again climb out of the cage to enter the collective conscious.

Redha collaborated with South Africa’s multi-award winning Sbonakaliso Ndaba in molding TDT Artistic Director Esther Nasser’s very edgy and sexy conceptualization of a dance work which incorporates both the terse movements of the martial arts and the weightless motion of dancers flying through the air. Pascal Angelier, acclaimed French trapeze teacher, came to South Africa to guide the TDT dancers in exploring movement in, over and around the cage.

Designs by Wilhelm Disbergen reflect current fashion’s pre-occupation with urban elements incorporated into the rigid framing of the human body. This exciting production teeters on the very edges of the mirror which has become humanity’s daily playground and will appeal to young an old but, for very different reasons!

This production of the Tshwane Dance Theatre (TCT) is generously supported by the South African National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund. “CrashDance” will be on the stage of the UJ Arts Centre for a short season until 29th October – thereafter transferring to the stage of the State Theatre Arena in Pretoria from 2nd to 6th November.

1. UJAC Theatre, Johannesburg

Sat 22 Oct 15:00
Tue 25 Oct 20:00
Wed 26 Oct 20:00
Thu 27 Oct 20:00
Fri 28 Oct 20:00
Sat 29 Oct 15:00

2. State Theatre Arena

Thu 3 Nov 20:00
Fri 4 Nov 20:00
Sat 5 Nov 15:00
Sat 5 Nov 20:00
Sun 6 Nov 15:00


Ticket Prices:

R 100.00 per person

R 50.00 per person for students and pensioners

Block Booking R 50.00 per person for 8 or more persons

Tickets-R100 per person
Tickets-R50 for students and pensioners
Block booking -R50- for more than 8 people