Tranceformations is art in motion

In celebration of 21 years of MIDM’s (Moving into Dance Mophatong) full-time vocational training, the renowned dance company has been staging some stunning performances throughout the year, funded by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Rand Merchant Bank, Business Arts South Africa, Rand Water Foundation, Dancing for the Children, National Arts Council bursaries, and the Arts and Culture Trust with Nedbank Arts Affinity.

To conclude this incredible year of dance, MIDM’s anniversary tribute will culminate in three weeks of explosive dance pieces simply titled 21, at the Dance Factory in Newtown, Johannesburg, from 17 November to 2 December.

This final programme will feature some dramatic pieces including choreographer and MIDM founder / Artistic Director Sylvia Glasser’s stylishly evocative and highly acclaimed Tranceformations, which, after several years, will be performed again, this time at the MIDM Gala on 29 November and then on 30 November and 1 December at the Dance Factory at 19h30.

Even though Glasser’s ground-breaking piece was created over two decades ago, in 1991, does not mean it has lost its pertinence and in fact it probably has even more resonance and significance today as it had at its genesis. Back then it was a trailblazing work which transformed perceptions and attitudes to San culture as well as to theatrical dance; whereas in South Africa today it pays homage to a history, a culture and a people as fundamental to the country’s current landscape as it was in the past.

It took Glasser years of study and research to begin working on Tranceformations, which was inspired by the ancient Bushman /San rock art and trance dancing. In 1987 Glasser began to consider the idea of a dance piece based on a trance dance or healing ritual which was closely linked to San rock art. It is likely that this rock art arose out of the experiences of the shamans or medicine men. During the healing ritual the medicine men acquired supernatural potency and they experienced an altered state of consciousness. To truly understand and begin to respect the complexities of the San belief system, Glasser decided to expand and intensify her research and only ended up choreographing the stunning Tranceformations four years later, in 1991.

One of the people who can be credited for guiding Glasser on her original journey to creating her dance piece was Professor David-Lewis Williams, a world renowned archeologist, author, academic and original Director of the Rock Art Research Centre at the University of the Witwatersrand, whose research changed the way rock art was perceived. He had this to say about Glasser and her piece in the 1998 MIDM 20th Anniversary booklet: “In 1987 Sylvia Glasser suggested the concept of a dance sequence that would deal with the life and plight of the San (Bushman) people. The fact that it did not come to fruition until 1991 is indicative of the care that she took and the time she invested in seeing to it that the dance achieved its goal and that the San were not in any way patronised. She called the sequence Tranceformations. But the transformations were not only those of the San in their religious life and their history. Those who took part and those who were privileged to witness it were also transformed. They came to see the San in a new and more sensitive light and to develop an empathy with one of Africa’s greatest traditions”

Now, once again, audiences will get the opportunity to experience the physical sensations, hallucinations, and transformations visualised and experienced by the ritual healers while in trance. All the images in the choreography are depicted on the San rock art. The dance highlights what the shamans do, feel and see, while the final transformation of this journey in dance takes the San into the modern world - the performance pays tribute to a dispossessed people and their culture.

Choreographed by Sylvia Glasser, Tranceformations also sees other highly talented South African’s coming together to bring the latest version of this exciting piece to stage. The music is composed by Shaun Naidoo, the design is by Sarah Roberts and the dance is performed by the MIDM dancers namely Muzi Shili (rehearsal assistant), Thandi Tshabalala (rehearsal assistant), Sonia Radebe, Sunnyboy Motau, Tebogo Letele, Julia Burnham, Faith Maseko, Oscar Buthelezi, Otto Nhlapo, Edwin Ramoba, Nhlanhla Ndzimande and Moleboheng Tlali.

This beautifully stylized piece of dance has been a long time coming and will astound audiences with the sheer physicality of the performance set against a dramatic backdrop – Tranceformations is art in motion.

More about MIDM

As a not-for-profit non-governmental organization, MIDM is proud of its fundamental role in the arts over the last 21 years and Glasser says, “MIDM does not just teach youth to dance, it equips individuals from under-resourced communities with the skills and confidence to become productive and self-sufficient people who are able to support their families and extended families. With the continued high rate of unemployment, we continue to be a safety net for many people who are the sole supporters of extended families as a result of the training they have received through us.” In this way, MIDM plays a role in breaking the cycle of poverty by providing career training and job opportunities to young people from impoverished communities.

The dance company is hoping to utilise the 21 celebration dance programme as not only a platform for the incredibly passionate and talented young MIDM performers but to also raise much-needed funding for bursaries for the students of 2013.

Dance patrons who may be interested in supporting the MIDM bursary fund-raising drive can contact Nadia or Busi on 011 838 2816 to book tickets for Tranceformations or any of the other performances on the three-week programme. Normal bookings can be done through Computicket.

For more information about MIDM go to www.midance.co.za.