Vuyani Dance Theatre Returns to Cape Town this Month

Award-winning contemporary dance group, the Vuyani Dance Theatre (VDT), returns to Cape Town on 15 and 16 August 2014 after a successful international tour last year that included countries such as France and the United States. They will restage "Four Seasons", one of the prescribed works for the national Dance Studies curriculum for Grades 10 to 12 as part of the Artscape Schools' Arts Programme that runs from 11 to 30 August.

Founder and director of VDT, Gregory Maqoma wrote a seminal work in 2009 entitled "Skeleton Dry", which tackles the issue of how mankind's moral degeneration is systematically destroying the planet. In "Four Seasons", he uses the cyclical change of the seasons to convey a hard hitting message of how the world is at the mercy of human hands as it evolves from the cold and despair of winter into the warmth and hope of summer.

The dance performance will feature eight dancers, including leading artists such as Julia Burnham, Lulu Mlangeni, Roseline Keppler, Otto Nhlapo, Phumlani Mndebele, Phumlani Nyanga, Seodigeng Kealeboga and Xolisile Bongwana. The dancers are accompanied by a four-piece band under the musical direction of Isaac Molelekoa on violin.

This unique Artscape Schools' Arts Programme provides artistic and educational support to thousands of Western Cape learners, starting from pre-school, cutting across special needs, up to high school level."This work offers a golden opportunity for Grade 10 to Grade 12 learners and their teachers to experience a vibrant interpretation of a school setwork through the professional choreography and staging of home-grown world class performers," says Artscape's Director of Audience Development and Education, Marlene le Roux.

The VDT was established more than 15 years ago and has performed in Amsterdam, Cape Town, Gaborone, Harare, Johannesburg, Lagos, London, New York, Paris and Singapore. The troupe has worked with super stars such as Hugh Masekela, Salif Keita, George Benson, John Legend, Black Eye Peas and Alicia Keys.

Tickets cost R40 and are available from Artscape Dial-a-Seat (021 421 7695) or online from Computicket, through the Computicket call centre (0861 915 8000) and at Shoprite and Checkers outlets.