Arts Writer
THE Africa Centre, in collaboration with the Gordon Institute for Performing and Creative Arts (GIPCA), are once again presenting the Infecting the City (ITC) Sessions.
Cutting edge dance, performance and visual art is being presented over four sessions that take place in the Cape Town city centre, UCT’s Hiddingh campus, Delft and Khayelitsha. The ITC Sessions bring engaged work into the public sphere, infecting the city with their own exploratory and exuberant energy.
Last week saw the programme start in the Company’s Garden and the next showcase is on April 12 and 13 in St Georges Mall from 11am (programme repeats both days). Then on April 23 Session 3(Kasi-2-Kasi) stages at Delft Spar, Main Road Delft South from 1pm (programme repeats in Session 4).Khayelitsha Mall, on the corner of Steve Biko Drive and Walter Sisulu Road airs Session 4 on April 30 (Kasi-2-Kasi) from 1pm (Session 3 programme repeats).
The Session 1 event presented a range of thought-provoking works, including iNdoni Arts & Leadership Academy’s spectacular dance performance of youthful power, Inkululeko; A playful portrait exchange with performance artist Anthea Moys; Ratibul al-hadat: A rendition of a traditional Cape Gathering of Remembrance. Hosted by Hasan and Husain Essop, and a dance performance of Le Kombi by choreographer and dancer Jeannot Kumbonyeki from the DRC.
Session 2 will travel the length of St Georges Mall and includes a new collaboration between two of South Africa’s most exciting performance artists, Buhlebezwe Siwani and Chuma Sopotela, who will deconstruct the representation of female bodies in music videos; an invitation to a 60-second encounter with a stranger in Tamryn Pelser’s intimate work; the vibrant signature choreography of Sibonelo Dance; and an intriguing performance installation made with shape-shifting mosquito netting created by the Angolan artist Cristiano Mangovo.
Kasi-2-Kasi (ITC Sessions 3 and 4) will weave through the streets of Delft and Khayelitsha, bringing stars in dance, music, visual art and performance to the public. These Sessions will include Elvis Sibeko’s new work, Black Tears, putting healing in motion through potent choreography; visual artists Anathi Tyawa and Cinga Samson’s artworks will be exhibited in public space; dynamic dance theatre from Melisa Peter that tracks the journey of a black woman, navigating the standards of the modern world; and Addis Ababa Assembly performing an innovative ‘lekgothla’, in which matters of Africa are ‘discussed’ through music, poetry and song.
ITC Sessions 2 is curated by Leila Anderson and Kasi-2-Kasi by Mandisi Sindo. Curatorial advice is provided by Jay Pather. See the Facebook page for updated information about all the ITC Sessions.
l lindak@africacentre.net, infectingthecity.com/2016/festival