Details

A fusion of contemporary and traditional African Caribbean forms, from dancers, drummers and international artists of all ages. Featuring Impulse, Birmingham's own adults' community performance group, Jamo Jamo Arts providing live African drumming and dance from Senegal, ACE Youth Dance Academy and Untold Dance Company from Amsterdam. In Mana, South African Choreographer Vincent Mantsoe will take you back to ancient times, evoking the spirit and earthy ambience of African dance and Shaman traditions. The word 'mana' is used in over twenty-four languages, it unifies beliefs,cultures and ages. Delving deep into the unknown, Mana will take you on a journey. Feel the hairs on your neck stand up and a shiver down your spine as you encounter the force which resides within all living beings and inanimate objects, the stuff of which magic is made. Watch exceptional dancers express soul, energy and precision to a stunning backdrop of commissioned music and cutting-edge lighting design, with movement styles drawing from Afro-fusion, Martial Arts techniques, the essence of Flamenco and Ballet. Broken Borders Arts Project: Dark Cell. Drawing inspiration from former political prisoners of South Africa's Robben Island, Dark Cell is an award-winning dance work which uses the concept of a prison cell as a metaphor for mental imprisonment. "Prison is designed to break one's spirit and destroy one's resolve... all with the idea of stamping out that spark that makes each of us human and each of us who we are." Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom. Includes minimal male nudity. Performed at the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown in July 2014

Creatives/Company

Choreographer(s): Vincent Mantsoe (Mana), Themba Mbuli (Dark Cell)
Music: Phil Thurston (Dark Cell)
Other: Kent Ekberg (concept - Dark Cell)