Members Of Moving Into Dance Mophatong in Flesh, now on at the Civic Theatre (Photo: John Hogg)

RELATED LINKS: Annual Joburg Arts Alive Festival Read more about the many events planned for the country's premier arts and culture festival. Maqoma's dance piece commemorates June 16 GREGORY Maqoma's much-lauded Rhythm Colour will take the form of a moving tribute to June 16, performed at the Apartheid Museum. Read more Moving tribute to dance project's founder 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. Read more Theatre guide JOHANNESBURG'S theatres are buzzing with innovative, indigenous theatre. Read more

Dance debut at the Civic Theatre Moving into Dance Mophotong's debut production at the Civic Theatre - touching on influences from Africa, Asia and Europe - provides an innovative dance experience for local theatregoers. September 22, 2006 By Michael Tsingo A NEW work by dynamic local choreographer Gregory Vuyani Maqoma, Flesh, debuts at the Johannesburg Civic, part of a triple bill performed by the Moving into Dance Mophatong (MIDM) company. Also part of the programme, currently on at the theatre as part of the City's Arts Alive festival, is Marie Brolin-Tani's Catching the Bird and eMandulo, choreographed by Thabo Rapoo. Flesh is the latest offering by Maqoma, who trained with MIDM, going on to become an associate artistic director. "The name is an irony," he says. "I work with titles that give different meanings ... [that do not directly] represent the work." The minimalist dance work is inspired by Japanese spirituality, drawing ties between the eastern philosophy, rituals and disciplines and the traditions of southern Africa's healers and prophets. Sonia Radebe in Moving into Dance Mophatong's eMandulo (Photo: John Hogg) While Flesh could be easily ascribed to the living body, says Maqoma, flesh "continues even after death". The second piece on the bill, Catching the Bird is inspired by the music of Igor Stravinsky, particularly The Firebird and The Rite of Spring. In Catching the Bird, Brolin-Tani, the artistic leader of the Swedish Skånes Dansteater, explores the essence of the individual and the contradictions of aloneness and being part of a society. The work explores the essence of the soul within every person. Music is by Hendrik Munch. Rapoo explores the role of women in traditional society in the final performance on the bill, eMandulo. MIDM's programme is currently on at the Tesson Theatre at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre complex and runs until Sunday, 24 September. Performances are at 8pm, except on Sunday, which is at 2.30pm. Tickets can be bought from Computicket or from the Civic Theatre. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za