Colourful
- a thought provoking dance production that centers around the
Apartheid regime is set to stage at the Playhouse theatre this week.
Under
the auspices of the Wentworth Arts and Culture organisation
professional development programme and supported by the NAC, this is the
first professional showcase that is choreographed and directed by
Jarryd Watson.
Tonight spoke to Watson about what’s in store for audiences.
Tell us about Colourful?
It’s
is a dance production that tells the story of the lives of many South
Africans' from the transition of apartheid to democracy and all the
different journeys they experienced during these two eras. The style of
the show is contemporary and hip hop genre dancing with a narration from
a poet where the dancers also perform to his lyrics.
And the name?
The
name Colourful came from the old apartheid South African flag and the
new democracy South African flag. The dancers costumes are also the
colours of the two flags, depicting the apartheid regime and the
democracy. It also came from the diverse rainbow nation we have in
South Africa.
What dances have you incorporated into the production?
The
dance routines are contemporary dance in the first half of the show,
where a lot of the movement are lyrical performances that have daring
lifts with our partner work but the abstract contemporary style also
tell the story of the segregation during apartheid, specifically the
group areas act, the non - interracial act and the pencil test that was
used to determine one’s race. I used quite a bit of the artist Ben
Harper's songs entitled oppression and gospel. Both these songs were
very fitting to show how many South Africans were oppressed by the
Apartheid regime and with the gospel song how those who got together to
stand against apartheid. The "Sweet disposition" song by the group
Temper Trap is used in the democracy scene and reveals the solace of
many South Africans in today’s democracy. The narration is said by a
poet and came from the voices of many communities.
It’s your first professional production, why the wait?
Well
in the arts industry it takes a long time to build up a repertoire and
in order to receive arts funding you have to be doing work for 5-7 years
so even though I have been eligible for a while to meet the criteria
our organisation only received funding last year to put on professional
work.
How are coping with the nerves of putting on a professional performance?
I'm
anxious as this is the first show where I am appealing to a different
audiences to support oppose those who know me from the community. So
while I’m excited about this I’m also very anxious as I don’t know how
the greater Durban audiences will react to this.
Tell me more about the Wentworth Arts and Culture organisation and the work that is done there.
It
has been in existences 23 years and is a multi arts organisation that
works in the development of arts in dance, music, drama, film, poetry
and visual arts with the disadvantaged youth and artists to provide
opportunity and exposure within the arts industry for them. I have been
working with the organisation for 10 years now.
What reactions are you hoping for?
Well
what any choreographer and director want, and that’s for the audience
to appreciate and enjoy the work we do. More so, to identify with the
story been told, as Colourful showcases the voice of many South
Africans.
Why should audience watch the show?
Because
it’s thought provoking, controversial, enlightening and entertaining
to watch as it also concurrently runs with the political situation our
country is experiencing.
*Colourful
will run for only two shows on April 22 at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are R120 and
are available at computicket and at the 2pm show. Block booking
concessions are available for schools, social groups, youth groups and
other groups. For more information on tickets and concessions contact
082 683 9665.