A new collaboration bringing together British and South African disabled dancers is set to entertain Cape Town audiences with a one-off show.
Whoever said having a physical disability meant you were limited, was wrong. And to prove that, dancers from the contemporary dance company Remix will present Boundless at the Baxter Theatre this weekend.
Remix’s first independent production will feature British dancers David Toole and Lucy Hind. The two dancers toured their last piece, Extraordinary, in South Africa last year.
“Lucy and I thought it was a great idea to collaborate with the company; to share in and experience something different,” Toole says.
The production comprises four dance pieces, based on four individuals’ stories. These were choreographed by Magnet Theatre’s Faniswa Yisa and Britons Sharon Watson, Mark Storor and Arthur Pita.
Toole, who has been dancing for almost 20 years, does not give his disability too much thought.
“We do the same training regimens a usual dancer would do. We push ourselves, we don’t take the easy option. We have extra tools and devices I believe create more interesting work.”
The project will continue with a second creative phase in the UK next year, leading up to the presentation of a new work at the International Dance Festival in Birmingham.
Batya Blankers, the company’s manager, believes they have struck gold: “It’s an incredible opportunity to work with these artists.”
The Remix Dance Company aims to bring about equality and social integration.
“We want to see the evolution of a commu-nity of integrated contemporary dance practitioners in South Africa, and the simul-taneous emergence of an integrated audience in theatre complexes accessible to people with disabilities,” Blankers says.
The cast are hard at work preparing for Sunday evening’s show. They describe the performance as being a highly energetic theatrical live art piece that incorporates movement and a unique style.
l Boundless takes place on Sunday at the Baxter Theatre at 6pm. Tickets can be purchased at computicket.