A spectacular fusion of dance, technology and satire
A press release by the Alliance Francaise:
Karohano Dance Extravaganza with Alliance Francaise
Dance is a language that is universal, it communicates to the senses without the need for words. This year, to end it with a healthy dose of dance delights, Alliance Francaise de Harare is proud to present to you the Karohano Dance Extravaganza on the 15th December 2010 at the 7 Arts (7.30pm)
Karohano is a spectacular fusion of dance, technology and satire from South Africa and Madagascar. ‘Karohano’, meaning ‘pieces’ in Sesotho, is a collaborative dance piece representing three male dancers from Madagascar and South Africa. It is a fusion of video technology and urban dance energy, revealing aspects of African male identity, political satire and ironic gestures, all this using the body as a medium. Being a very culturally rooted genre, it is a collaboration between two South African dancers and one dancer from Madagascar. This piece has been awarded first prize during the International Dance Festival “Danse l’Afrique danse” in Tunis. For the social philosophers, lovers of true art and the intellectual minds, this will be the icing on the cake, seeing as it is a very absorbing experience with a definitive new flavour to the mind. The Karohano Dance Extravaganza is arguably the most important dance event to happen this year. Cancel all other appointments and activities, this here, its the event to attend.
The schedule is as follows, the show will be opened by a local dance company called “Essence of Women” who performed at HIFA this year! After that, “Inzalo” itself will present two mind-blowing pieces. The first of which, is one titled ‘Collision’ – a solo piece by the South African dancer Moeketsi Koena. Following this is the Karohano piece itself.
Just to give a brief history lesson, Karohano was created and showcased in Madagascar in 2006 at the Itrotra festival, after two South African dancers toured Madagascar. Then later braced the stages of South Africa in the Annual Dance Umbrella in 2007. Later in 2007, Karohano was reworked and performed at Market Theatre Laboratory and around Soweto schools. In 2008 it won the first prize for the 7th choreographic encounters for Dance L’Afrique Dance, in Tunisia as said before. Added to all this, they have a dance video which was directed by Jeannette Genslov and it was showcased in different dance films across the world.
They believe that dance is not just a mere response to music and rhythm, but is movement oratory with unquestionable educational elements. They should know, because their high profile performances are too numerous to mention in entirety having been in countries of different cultures all across the globe. They also are involved in philanthropic work in various communities, which shows how much they believe helping in any way one can as it always makes a difference, no matter how small.
Karohano
15th December at 7Arts, 7.30pm
C/C: 10 $Tickets available at Alliance Francaise, 328 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare