Gregory

Maqoma

Cion Requiem of Ravel’s Bolero

Premiered: 24 May 2017, The Market Theatre,

Johannesburg

Production Name : Cion; Requiem of Ravel’s Bolero

Production Company : Vuyani Dance Theatre

Conceived and Choreographed : Gregory Maqoma

Gregory Maqoma’s Note:

In this work, I am drawn to Zakes Mda’s character “Toloki” the

professional mourner from his beloved Ways of Dying as he further

uncovers in his book Cion the story of the runaway slaves. In my

interpretation, Toloki rediscovers death in a modern context, inspired

by the universal events that lead to death, not as a natural phenomenon

but by decisions of others over the other. We mourn the death by

creating death. The universe of greed, power; religion has led us to be

professional mourners who transform the horror of death and the pain

of mourning into a narrative that questions what seems to be normalised

and far more brutal in how we experience death and immigration. I am

creating this work as a lament, a requiem required to awaken apart of

us, the connection to the departed souls.

The first offering under the title “Requiem Request” was first presented

at William Kentridge’s The Centre for the Less Good Idea where the

idea of interrogating the music of Ravel’s Boléro using South African

voices as a musical device to create a score.

Performers

Travel Team

16 People

Opening solo dancer (Otto Nhlapo)

Supporting solo

8 Dancers (Vuyani Dancers)

4 Voices

10 Dancers including an understudy

4 Singers

Sound Engineer

Technical Director

Tour Manager

Official Statement from Zakes Mda

"I fell in love with Maqoma's work when he was still a student and he composed and

choreographed an elaborate piece inspired by the some harrowing historical events. After

the show I told Adrienne Sichel, a foremost dance critic of the day, that this young man will

take South African dance to new international heights. He has since proved me right. I have

followed and been highly inspired by his work which has also bedazzled the world. My family

and I have driven for a day and a night across the states of America just to watch a piece like

Exit/Exist, the most awe-inspiration performance I've seen in my life. In turn, that piece has

inspired a lot of my painting. I'm therefore greatly honoured that today he has found

inspiration from my novels and the characters that I've created to come up with this magical

and soaring piece."

Treatment of Marketing Material

All Marketing material for the production should follow the below poster example. Under

no circumstances should this artwork be changed unless written consent is given by the

production company.

Biographies Gregory Maqoma Creator and

Performer

Born in Soweto, October 16 of 1973,

Gregory Vuyani Maqoma became

interested in dance in the late 1980’s as a

means to escape the political tensions

growing in his place of birth. He started his

formal dance training in 1990 at Moving

into Dance where in 2002 he became the

Associate Artistic Director. Maqoma has

established himself as an internationally

renowned dancer, choreographer, teacher,

director and scriptwriter. He founded

Vuyani Dance Theatre (VDT) in 1999

when he was undertaking a scholarship at

the Performing Arts Research and

Training School (PARTS) in Belgium

under the direction of Anne Teresa De

Keersmaeker.

Maqoma is respected for his collaborations

with artists of his generation. Since 2000 he

has collaborated with choreographers like

Akram Khan, Vincent Mantsoe, Faustin

Linyekula, Dada Masilo, Shanell Winlock

and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui

Several works in his VDT repertoire have

won him accolades and international

acclaim. This includes FNB Vita

Choreographer of the Year in 1999, 2001

and 2002 for Rhythm 1.2.3, Rhythm Blues

and Southern Comfort respectively. He

received the Standard Bank Young Artist

Award for Dance in 2002. Maqoma was a

finalist in the Daimler Chrysler

Choreography Award in 2002 and in the

Rolex Mentorship Programme in 2003.

He is the recipient of the 2012 Tunkie

Award for Leadership in Dance, which is

presented annually to a South African who

has elevated the standard and visibility of

dance in South Africa.

In 2017 Maqoma was honored by the

French Government with the Chavelier de

L’ordre des Arts et Lettre (Knight of the

Arts and Literature award)

Zanemvula Mda was born in Herschel, South Africa, in

1948. He studied in South Africa, Lesotho and the

United Kingdom. He worked in these countries as well.

When he started publishing, he adopted the pen name of

Zakes Mda. In addition to writing novels and plays, he has

taught English and creative writing in South Africa and the

United Kingdom.

Most recently, he went to the United States, where he

became a professor in the English Department at Ohio

University in Athens, Ohio. He has been a visiting

professor at Yale and the University of Vermont.

Mda is a founding member and currently (as of 2011)

serves on the advisory board of African Writers Trust, "a

non-profit entity which seeks to coordinate and bring

together African writers in the Diaspora and writers on the

continent to promote sharing of skills and other resources,

and to foster knowledge and learning between the two

groups."

On 8 June 2012 Zakes Mda was awarded an honorary

doctorate of the University of Cape Town for his

contributions to world literature. His novels have been

translated into 21 languages, the translation of Ways of

Dying into Turkish being the latest.

Zakes Mda

Author of a novel Cion

Cast Bios

Itumeleng Tsoeu - Studied Dramatic and Visual art as part of his NSC certificate. In the

same year Tsoeu performed in a play called Woza Albert as part of the NSC final exams

and also nothing but the truth. After passing my matric. I was inspired and developed an

interest in dancing which became my first dance lesson and first try at Lejweleputswa art

centre and I was attending those dance lessons with Ernest Balene, Motlatsi Khotle.

A few months later he was involved in a workshop held by Moving into dance Mophatong

on a seven weeks dance workshop, the name of the show was titled IN TIME and the

mentor for the show was Bab Muzi and it was performed at Ernest Openhermmer theatre

it was performed three time in a day and took a tour to Johannesburg. There was also a

workshop held again at Lejweleputswa art centre held by Thabo Kobeli and it was a two

weeks workshop for gaining knowledge and learning techniques.

Otto Andile Nhlapo - Born and raised in Heidelberg (Ratanda) started out with the Juvenile

Development Cultural Group in 2004, specialising in Zulu dance genres (Umkhomazi,

Isizingili, Ushamen and Umzansi) and Pantsula dance. He has performed for dignitaries

including President Jacob Zuma, former President Thabo Mbeki and FIFA President

Joseph Sepp Blatter. In 2010 he joined MIDM Performing Arts Training Course and had

an opportunity to study and perform in various events, he also worked with Robyn Orlin in

her work titled Beauty, toured 11 cities in France. 2012 He won the pick of the stepping

stones Dance Umbrella Festival Johannesburg with his solo work titled Dirty Hands, 2018

he attended Dance umbrella festival London with a production titled Via Kanana

In 2013 he joined Vuyani Dance Theatre as a junior company member and, after three

months he was promoted to be a senior company member, where he then got an

opportunity to tour with the company overseas. He has toured countries like Finland,

Germany, Sweden, Holland, China and New York to name a few. He performed at the

Metro FM annual awards 2013 to 2015, sharing the stage with various South African

musicians. In 2014, he also performed with the company at the Presidential Inauguration.

He had the privilege to perform works of great choreographers in the country, works like

Four Seasons, Full Moon, Kudu and Wake up choreographed by Gregory Vuyani

Maqoma. In addition, he also performed works like Umnikelo, Dominion, Siva and 7Pillars

choreographed by Luyanda Sidiya. He work with Via Katlehong in production titled Via

Kanana, and also performed Transformations choreographed by Sylvia Glasser. He

choreographed for the song Ndiredi by Simphiwe Dana on the production (Joys of Sharing)

presented by Vuyani Dance Theatre, Featuring Wouter Kellerman and Simphiwe Dana,

directed by Greg Maqoma.

In the year 2017 he created his first work with the company witch was presented on the

Vuyani week season 2017 work titled Interpellation. 2018 In a process of creating a double

bill with Gregory Maqoma for the upcoming Vuyani week 30th November 2018.

Roseline Wilkens - Wilkens, a professional Ballroom and Latin American dancer in

Championship level and 7 times undefeated title owner. She then got introduced to a

whole new world of dancing when she joined MID in 2010 where she was trained in

African Contemporary Dance. In 2011 she joined Vuyani Dance Theatre as a trainee,

then a junior and now a fully-fledged senior company member. She has since worked

with different choreographers that helped shape her career into what it is now. The

likes of Themba Nkabinde, Kefiloe Morand, Sbonakaliso Ndaba, Luyanda Sidiya and

her current director Gregory Maqoma. Her highlights were being part of the 2010

FIFA World Cup, ANC Centenary Celebration 2013, The Metro Awards 2013,

Vienne Jazz Festival 2013, perfoming at the Presidential Inaugurations 2014, Golden

Hearts Awards and the Drug Abuse Campaign in Soweto . She has been travelling and

performing in and around the world like Sweden, Germany, France, Finland,

Amsterdam, New York and her place of birth South Africa.

Thulisile Binda - In 2012 Binda started her dance training at the Flatfoot Dance Company

in Durban. While at Flatfoot she performed at the JOMBA Festival in the dance production

directed by Lliane Loots. It was in 2012 where Binda appeared in a musical production

‘Have we been Heard’ directed by Bheki Mkhwane and “Unveiling the Name” directed by

PS Ngobese.

She later moved to Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre in June 2014 to further her training. Prior

to her training at Siwela Sonke she had already made her mark in Latin American dance

and was at championship level. 2015 proved to be a busy year as she performed in the dance

production ‘Rite of Spring’ choreographed by Jay Pather at the Dance Umbrella Festival in

Johannesburg as well as at the JOMBA Festival. Later that year she was in a piece titled

“viewpoints” directed and created by Sbusiso Gantsa which was performed at Artscape and

Gugulethu during the Cape Town International Festival. During the same festival she also

performed ‘Xenophobia’ with Siwela Sonke directed by Jay Pather. Finally she was selected

to play the supporting actress in Qaphela Ceaser production which also directed by Jay

Pather and performed at the State Theatre in Pretoria.

In 2016 she was casted in ‘The Firebird’ produced by the IMG Artists International and

Janni Younge Productions. The dance puppetry production was directed by Janni Young

and choreographed by Jay Pather and was performed in the Opera Theatre at Artscape, at

the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown and to six cities in the United State of America.

Binda is currently at Vuyani Dance Theatre where in 2016 she performed in ‘Joys of

Sharing’ a collaborative production with the musicians Simphiwe Dana and Wouter

Kellerman, which travelled to Russia in the year 2017 for cultural exchange. Later in the

year she performed Page 27 at the Market Theatre choreographed by Lulu Mlangeni.

She has also worked on “Out of Joint” a Bi-Continental collaboration between step text

company from Germany and Vuyani Dance Theatre, choreographed by Gregory Maqoma

and Helge Letonja. This production has toured 5 cities in Germany between 2017 and 2018

and late travelled to Montreal, Canada in 2018.

She has been in the touring cast of Cion: Requiem of Ravel’s Bolero choreographed by

Gregory Maqoma and toured to Romania, Cape Town and Bloemfontein. Lulu Mlangeni

cast her in “Scars” that formed part of the Playhouse 2018 season as well as the Women’s

Festival and the Trade Fair, where she got an award for being the best female performer.

She recently received the “Pick of the Fringe Award” in the Jomba festival for her Solo piece

called “Ithemba” (Hope) which she choreographed and performed in

Ernest Balene - His theatrical experience began while in High School. Taking parts in some

of the production that were produced in the school. Took part in Tsoho Community

Theatre Festival held by PACOFS with the play called ‘The Secret’ which was also

performed at the Market Theatre in the Festival, Zwakala. Acted in a local movie called ‘An

eye for an eye’ directed by Goimetsang Pholo. Performed twice in the National Arts Festival

in Grahamstown with productions called ‘Exodus’ (Dance production) choreographed and

directed by Mark Dobson Anthony and ‘Eagles’ (Dance production) choreographed and

directed by Warren Wilskuit and both shows where produced by Mangaung Drama and

Dance Academy known as (MDG Performing Arts Academy). Shared a stage with ‘The

Soil’ in Extravaganza which was organised by University of the Free State (UOFS) an it was

choreographed by Sizakele MDI. Did community project by teaching the Nursary Schools

or Creche Puppetry and perform for them. In 2016 I joined Vuyani Dance Theatre and

was casted in ‘Joys Of Sharing’ directed by Gregory Maqoma. Was also casted in PAGE

27’ created and choreographed by Lulu Mlangeni.

Katleho Lekhula - Katleho grew up in Vaal Reefs in the North West (Klerksdorp) which is

where he his formative academic career began. Passionate about the arts he started

performing on various local stages such as Mmabana at the Calabash festival in Taung from

primary school level. He naturally developed as a performer later performing at Macufe

which is where his professional performances began, participating in Tsoho Festival at

PACOFS, the piece developed into a big production that toured Zimbabwe choreographed

by Reginal Danster. He later worked with Foot Expression Dance Company with a show

called Inside Out under mentorship of Thabo Rapooho which was staged at Dance

Umbrella, then worked with MIDM (Moving Into Dance Mophatong) on Triumph. I was

also part of a show called The Newspaper mentored by Tshepiso Dasilva Phetlhu that was

presented at Oppenheimer Theatre. October 2016 he joined the Vuyani Dance Theatre’s

training programme where he has performed Joys of Sharing directed by Gregory Maqoma,

Beyond and Page 27 choreographed by Phumlani Nyanga and Lulu Mlangeni respectively.

He has also been casted in Maqoma’s Cion: Requiem of Ravel’s Bolero, Otto Nhlapo’s

Interpellation, SEAfrica 2018 conference and RMB’s Starlight Classics

Smangaliso Ngwenya - Smangaliso Ngwenya is a performer, dancer, writer, choreographer

and Rhodes Journalism and Media Studies Graduate. In 2017 he joined Vuyani Dance

Theatre as an apprentice. In his first year he performed in Gregory Maqoma’s “Cion” and

toured Russia with “Joys of Sharing” amidst scripting and performing in Otto Andile

Nhlapo’s “Interpellation”. His solo “Mask-your-linearity” is his first choreographic offering

which premiered at Vuyani Week 2017 and continued to be performed in 2018 at Adrienne

Sichel’s “Body Politics: Fingerprinting South African Contemporary Dance” book launch.

In 2018 he has scripted and performed in Lulu Mlangeni’s “Confined” and has toured

locally and internationally with Maqoma’s “Cion”. His time at Rhodes University exposed

him to movement and physical theatre training which now forms a core of his approach to

dancing, scripting and choreographing. He is also skilled in filming, editing and

choreographing through film. He is currently a junior company member at Vuyani Dance

Theatre and pursuing his Masters in Cultural Policy and Arts Management at Wits

University.

Xolisle Bongwana - An accomplished dancer who is also versed in singing, composing,

directing, acting and choreography. Born 27 June 1985 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape of

South Africa, now based in Gauteng, he began his singing and dancing career in Port

Elizabeth around 1999 as a youngster. Xoli then went on to work with the Dodgy Clutch

Theatre Company as an actor, dancer and singer, working with choreographer Robyn Orlin

and going on to tour in the UK and USA.

2005 saw him join Uphondo Lwe Africa, Port Elizabeth. In 2012 Xoli performed in the

ANC Centenary Celebrations and was involved with the opening of the Nelson Mandela

Children’s Hospital in December 2016.

Xoli has worked extensively with Gregory Maqoma and Luyanda Sidiya, in various festivals

with the Vuyani Dance Theatre and recently returned from a tour in Western Australia

where he was performing in the Perth International Arts Festival 2017 as part of an A

cappella quartet Vuyani Ensemble in the production of Exit/Exist featuring Gregory

Maqoma. The Ensemble also performed as a separate entity in Perth, Albany and Denmark

including a music workshop for a mature aged group of musicians and choir.

In 2015 Xoli was a composer and musical director in the production SIVA, a dance work

choreographed by Luyanda Sidiya who was the Standard Bank Young Artist for 2015. SIVA

went on to be performed in the Grahamstown Festival and in China.

Xoli with other vocalists have recently formed themselves under the group name Ubuthina

Ensemble with plans to tour W. Australia in 2018. He continues to push his boundaries in

all fields as well as exploring other skills.

Sbusiso Shozi - Started his career under Mbongeni Ngema’s Shows such as Sing Africa

Dance, Bhambatha 1906 and Sarafina where he earned some lead singing and supporting

roles. He also did some international and national tours with several companies where he

performed as a Lead Actor, singer and dancer. Shows such as Africa My Love, Makhulu,

Drumstruck, Just for You, Shosholoza, Music in the Air, Soweto Entsha, Have We Been

Heard, Long Way to Go, Voices from Kilimanjaro, Umshado and Currently Performing

Sarafina as Stimela saseZola.

Sbusiso did a bit of Television shows where he earned a lead role in a documentary called

Operation Certain Death and featured in Isibaya.

He is a musical Director and a vocal coach for several shows he has performed in and a

Director of his company, Show Zee Productions.

Thabang Mkhwanazi - Dancer, singer and an actor. He started in 1996 Working with Oupa

Malatjie as an Actor. He worked with known musicians and cultural activists such as Tu

Nokwe for 4 years as a dancer and worked with Nhlanhla Mahlangu as a singer. He is a

choreographer for the group Tswelopele and he attended acting classes at the Market

Theatre for 3 years. Mkhwanazi is now a singer, dancer and a percussionist for Soweto

Gospel Choir, that's where he started touring worldwide. He performed for Nelson Mandela

and Thabo Mbeki, sharing the stage with Bono and Peter Gabriel at first the 46664 in Cape

Town. He played a lead in the short movie called INDLOVUKAZI then he was called to

be an extra in ISIBAYA attending the UTA meetings. He did a stage play called

SIKHATHELE , YVELE and RESIGNE FROM HELL. He also performed at the Miss

World competition held at Sun City. Mkhwanazi performed with many important

celebrities around the world.

Simphiwe Bonongo - Soweto Born Performer, Born 1st January 1987 at the Chris Hani

Baragwanath Hospital. He started acknowledging beatboxing during the year of 2003 and

practiced from Hip Hop Sessions in and around the Vaal Rand.

Bonongo did his first stage beatboxing performance after moving to Johannesburg in the

year 2011 With KiriPinKnob, in the stage work ‘Boom Bap vs Swag Rap’, to name one.

Bonongo has been working with the company till recently.

Bonongo did more beatboxing work with the Song & Dance theatrical company from the

year of 2014, featuring in the Musical Dance piece with ‘Phuphuma love minors’

(Schathamiya group) and another piece ‘The Chants we Make’.

The Vuyani Dance Theatre (VDT) is a contemporary African dance company founded in

1999 by Creative Executive Director Gregory Maqoma. After years of gracing international

and local stages, VDT is positioned as one of the most cutting-edge, thought provoking and

successful dance and theatrical organisations to have emerged in Africa. VDT is spot-on

regarding its artistic objective of producing work that questions and challenges social values

while, simultaneously, exploiting history as a launch pad for (material) research and

development.

Various themes of concern to young people are also addressed through collaborative

methods and forms that involve music and dance styles that are in keeping with the

performers’ own lives. Vuyani Dance Theatre approach embraces - in a dynamic and

theatrical way - the many tastes, the different motivations, and the diverse cultures that shape

the uniqueness of the South African society. Such is achievable courtesy of a pool of diligent

creators and dancers who invariably express themselves with artistic excellence.

The company has performed in Europe, the USA, Africa, Mexico and New Zealand. It has

scooped top awards in South Africa for dance and choreography and has received

international recognition and continues to do so.

VDT constantly finds co-creators and performers from all over the world. Hitherto, the

interaction that includes ideas and empirical artistic participation has led VDT in the

direction of efficacy. It can be stated without doubt, at the moment, that all who have been

aligned (in turns) with VDT since inception have in one way or another gained from the

organization.

For Bookings Contact:

Siya Dokoda

+27 712616625

siya@vuyani.co.za

www.vuyani.co.za

www.vuyani.co.za

Vuyani Dance Company

@Vuyani Dance Co

@vuyanidancetheatre_official

Vuyani Dance