BUSINESS & ARTS |
MICHELLE CONSTANT
Collaborating beyond politics
T
Musa Motha and Thabang Mojapeli PHOTOS John Hogg
he recent launch of dance journalist Adrienne
people who are versed in the language of dance, it may not
Sichel’s book on contemporary dance Body Politics:
be so striking, but something shifted in me. I subsequently
Fingerprinting South African Contemporary Dance
sent a photo of the two, taken by the supremely talented
(Porcupine Press) at the Market Theatre filled me
John Hogg, to the BASA team with the message, ‘If you are
with complex emotions. Sichel has been an important driver
ever thinking of giving up…’ This, after all, is the example of
of how contemporary dance in this country has been covered,
true grit, and many, many South Africans could learn from
reviewed, marketed, challenged and even changed. For anyone
it. (I think the duet should be taken to corporates, to teach
who believes in the power of transformation and real diversity
them how to deliver against all odds – just a thought…)
in the cultural context of dance, this book is an important
Post the event, I was challenged by an arts journalist as
offering into the academy and more. The event too was highly
to why BASA might have supported the book. The support
emotive – featuring dancers from different companies and
was on the basis that we were then able to get RMB to
well-wishers from around the world.
add to the monies so that Sichel and the Artchive team
Perhaps what knocked at my ribs (was it my heart
could get it published. RMB has always been a supporter of
pounding, I wonder) was a duet, featuring dancers Musa
contemporary dance, engaging in a manner that goes way
Motha and Thabang Mojapeli. Motha is differently abled
beyond simply the funding or sponsorship, but with a real
– he only has one leg and dances with the use of a crutch.
desire to make a difference in the sector, and broader society.
Possibly one of the most beautiful works I have seen in a
What saddens me is that at a time when we are desperate
long time, the dancer’s feline fluidity was deeply moving. For
to get South Africans, academia, business and government
48 / Creative Feel / November 2018
