YOUNG choreographers and movement students will present experimental, innovative work as part of the first Detours Festival at the Wits theatre in May.
The festival runs until May 26 and hopes to engage movement students with young professionals already in the field.
Wits Vuvuzela caught up with two groups preparing for the festival at the Wits Theatre this week.
One of the groups is from the Sibikwa Art Dance Centre in Benoni. Their performance is titled Unnatural Presence.
Choreographer Freddy Zwane said the inspiration for the movement piece is taken from their lives and the way in which they grew up.
He describes the dance as a mixture of African dance and Butoh, the “dance of darkness”.
“There are many ways of communicating with people, and movement is just one of these,” said Yuhl Headman, co-ordinating manager.
“Many languages can be moved in an unspoken language.”
Roystan Kemp, 3rd year Drama, said he is hoping to gain more skills from the Detours festival.
“We are learning to experiment not only with text but also with the body,” said Kemp.
“Young choreographers need exposure but often lack the resources and experience to attract it,” curator and organiser Jane Crewe said.
“The Detours Festival provides a platform on which to showcase new work and an opportunity for dialogue around experimental movement composition to take place.”
The festival is at Wits Theatre from 9-27 May in partnership with Wits Art and Literature Experience (WALE).
