September 23, 2003
By Tammy O'Reilly
FROM its humble beginnings in the family garage of Sylvia Glasser's home, Moving into Dance Mophatong now proudly celebrates its 25th year as one of the country's leading dance companies.
Celebrating this achievement and honouring its history and heritage, MIDM will present two diverse programmes at the Wits Theatre from 23 September to 27 September.
The first programme, Uhambo - 25 and Still Moving, previews on 23 September at 8pm and opens officially on 24 September at 7.30pm, while the second programme, Sylver Synergy, is set to run from 25 September until 27 September.
Founded by Glasser in 1978, MIDM was formed during the height of apartheid as a non-racial dance group. The company is renowned for its Afro-fusion dancing, an integration of African expression, culture and rituals.
Uhambo -25 and Still Moving, includes several seminal works choreographed by Glasser, Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe and Gregory Vuyani Maqoma including Tranceformations, Layers of Time and Gula Matari.
Glasser's Tranceformations, first performed in 1991, is inspired by rock art images and pays tribute to the San as the original indigenous inhabitants of southern Africa.
Mantsoe's award winning 1993 work Gula Matari is about rediscovering the bush as a spiritual place. By transforming into the spirit of a bird and joining other birds, he discovers the beauty of being free and finding inner peace.
Gregory Vuyani Maqoma, founder of the Vuyani Dance Theatre Project, began his formal training with MIDM and is now its associate artistic director. His Layers of Time was choreographed in 1998. A group performance, Maqoma uses the Wellington boot as a symbol of better things to come.
The second programme, from 25 September to 27 September at 8pm, pays tribute to Glasser. Maqoma will present a dance montage entitled Sylver Synergy made up of her most memorable works.
A special event, at 6pm on 27 September, sees Glasser presenting a talk on Transformations, which will be followed by a performance of the work.
Tickets are available from Computicket at R40. MIDM cardholders pay R30 and students R20. There is a special price of R60 for people wanting to attend both performances on 27 September.
For more information on MIDM's 25th anniversary call 011 838 2816 or log on to www.midance.co.za.
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