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S TATE EDITION Vol 46 No 1559 SERVING VICTORIA SINCE 1969

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Mark Richardson ♥ Straight from the heart

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Circus of the senses ■ Previously hailed as 'the lion king on steroids', Cirque Mother Africa is set to pump high-energy, sparkling colours, daring acrobatics, infectious dance rhythms and uplifting songs to light up with fireworks on the Palms stage at Crown on Friday evening (June 13).

Combining all the classic circus elements that will pulsate to the heartbeat of Africa, the newly formatted 90-minute production features new acts, new music and traditional African costumes to bring together an entertainment extravaganza from the length and breadth of the African continent - Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Benin, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Guinea and South Africa.

Whilst popping muffins up and down in her hotel toaster, I caught up with one of the lead performers representing Zimbabwe, 29-year-old Silethemba Magonya, who is not only a self-taught professional dancer, but is an avid chef whose passion for home cooked meals prompted her to also undertake and complete a Diploma in Culinary.

Growing up in "an old chaotic but exciting suburb of Njube" in Zimbabwe's city of Bulawayo, Silethemba's love for singing and dancing began as an after school activity with her siblings and friends, continuing to dance her way through high school before joining the Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts (IYASA) to star in major productions around the world.

With her muffins turning cold, I caught Silethemba off guard when I asked how, as a professional dancer, she acquired the nickname, 'Tipsey', where she explained (laughing), "when I was in high school, my friends always thought I acted like somebody who was tipsey and drunk, so that's how it came about."

You were the second born in a family eight. With such a big family, when did you discover you could dance?

After school in Zimbabwe, kids are always playing in the streets, painting and singing. When I was in school I did so much singing in the school choir. I joined the drama group and I discovered my love for dance.

From high school you began touring around Africa and performing overseas with IYASA. Can you recall your impressions of your first international performance?

It was in Linz in Austria. We performed at an Arts Festival, called Schaexpir. I thought, "Oh my God!"

Mother Africa Porch Thoughts

All these people are sitting down and they were all so quiet, watching me dance and listening to me sing. I was really nervous and it was the first time I was performing for a white audience. It was really a great moment for me.

What's one of the most memorable cities you've performed in?

It was in New York last year in December. Our show was in the New Victory Theatre which was like Broadway in Times Square. It was like one of those great moments in life - that was actually 'happening'.

What is one city that perhaps shocked you when you first started touring overseas?

Going to New York for the first time was a very new and different experience. It was a big place with tall buildings. There were so many people and when you're walking on the streets, you hit shoulders with people. To makes matters worse, it was Christmas time and then New Years. It was so packed and everything was just too fast paced for me.

How do you explain your travelling adventures to your siblings who may have not ventured outside of Zimbabwe?

They are always curious to know what I am up to and where I've been.

I make it a point that every time I'm in a different place, I take photos and I go sightseeing so I can show them many wonderful places around the world. I have also started filming videos to show them different ways of life and cultures.

Why do you believe that music and dance is important for the world and particularly for our future generations?

I believe that music, particularly music with dance, is one way we can relate to other people regardless of culture. Music and dance brings the world together. It helps us understand

each other. Music and dance gets our lives going. It is one thing making the world go around. The world would be boring without it.

Who inspired you most to be singer and dancer growing up?

African singer, Lucky Dube. His music had so many messages. If you think back on what was happening in Africa or South Africa particularly during the apartheid era when there was so much war, his music was all about the message of bringing Africa together. Messages such as; 'let's have peace', 'let's forget', 'let's forgive each other', 'let's do the right thing', 'let's make our world a better place'. I still listen to him on my iPod. The messages in his songs are strong and still touching.

Were you influenced or inspired by any Western artists?

Yes Michael Jackson inspired me. Growing up, I watched him on a small TV. Michael was the pop star for everybody. Whitney Houston and Celine Dion were artists that if I had a chance to be by myself, in front of the mirror, I would try to

● Silethemba Magonya imitate them by what I saw them performing on TV. Cirque Mother Africa is the brainchild of former street performer Winston Ruddle, who founded his own artist academy in Tanzania to train young, talented African performers to tour with the production. What will audiences expect to see in Victoria?

Fireworks! Massive African talent vibrant live music performed by the stomping In African Band and also features the traditional tones of the Kora, a 20-string instrument from the west coast of Africa. It is a show packed with acrobatic acts, colorful costumes and contemporary African dancing and music. It's a show with happiness and young people with so much energy. Our performers are doing what they love to do. The audience will be clapping and tapping their feet during the whole show. We have 25 performers on stage representing six different African cities.

You've previously performed in most major cities around Australia. What's one thing you have enjoyed doing in Melbourne that you may enjoy doing again this visit?

Definitely visiting the Melbourne Aquarium again. I also enjoy just walking around the streets, shopping and Melbourne's food. I love Melbourne's food culture and its mixture of great food from India and Africa.

What's one thing you look forWard to doing after a lengthy world tour?

I always look forward to returning home to be with my family again. On tour we are travelling alone and staying in hotels and eating in restaurants. I always look forward to that moment at the airport, thinking "wow, I am home." I love my country and my people.

What is your Porch Thought for the Day? Jump up high and break a leg.

Enjoy the moment because life is too short. Do the best while you can; while you can still kick that leg high, while you can still break it up - just get up and break a leg. ● For more information and remaining Victorian performance dates (including tomorrow night in Bendigo) visit www.cirquemotherafrica.com.au

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