Dance prayer to the divine returns

FUSION: Members of the cast of Bhakti which comes back to stage this week.

FUSION: Members of the cast of Bhakti which comes back to stage this week.

Published Nov 25, 2014

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THE dance production Bhakti makes its way back to stage this week as part of the Playhouse’s 20 Years of Democracy Season, which also comes to a close.

The collaboration joins dancers from the Flatfoot Dance Company and the Playhouse Dance Residency whose movements will be fused with the sounds of the djembe drum (played by Mandla Matsha), the Indian tabla (Vishen Kemraj), the Maskandi guitar (Madala Kunene), African and contemporary dance and classical Indian dancers (including performances by Manesh Maharaj) and the spoken word from poet Raheem Kemet.

Tonight caught up with Raheem, who is well known on the hip hop and spoken word scenes (Childosylenz, Tree Houses On The Sea a.k.a T.H.O.T.S) and who makes his theatre debut with Bhakti.

“The production is based on poetry done by Rumi. He speaks about the dervish culture of people dancing and reaching enlightenment. I do the poetry in the piece. I use some text from Rumi and I’ve also composed some of my own spoken word.

“It’s more like incantations, evoking and my struggle to reach enlightenment as a human being…

“What’s really nice is Bhakti is a fusion of everything with the Flatfoot Dance Company, the Playhouse Dance Company and respected musicians. It’s also a great integration of culture. You get Indian and African dance influences, for example. It’s a really inspiring and beautiful piece and great way to commemorate 20 years of democracy and remind people of the richness of our cultures,” explained Raheem.

He said that dance is a language in that it ties in with the poetry and transcends barriers: “I like that the Playhouse is giving artists and upcoming artists an opportunity to showcase themselves. This is my first theatre production. I’m mostly involved in hip hop circles and I’m excited to be a part of this.”

First created by choreographer Lliane Loots in 2010, Bhakti won an Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival a year later. Loots explained at the time: “My own physical and spiritual journeys to the East, and my deeply embedded love of my home – Africa – all come together in this work which is really a long dance prayer or devotion offered to gods, goddesses and ancestors alike.”

• Bhakti, Playhouse Drama Theatre, Friday to Sunday. R80 at Computicket.

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