Weekend special a promise of more to come

A three-hour dance performance on Saturday in Kota Street, Extension 9, was organised by the Sakhuluntu Cultural Group as a warm-up for a Heritage Day event next month.

The "weekend special" saw young members of the group perform to an audience of more than 50 residents, Rhodes University students and local artists.

It began with beating drums, and then Sakhuluntu founder, Vuyo Booi, addressed the audience and explained that the day's events were intended to get the girls accustomed to performing in front of a crowd.

A three-hour dance performance on Saturday in Kota Street, Extension 9, was organised by the Sakhuluntu Cultural Group as a warm-up for a Heritage Day event next month.

The "weekend special" saw young members of the group perform to an audience of more than 50 residents, Rhodes University students and local artists.

It began with beating drums, and then Sakhuluntu founder, Vuyo Booi, addressed the audience and explained that the day's events were intended to get the girls accustomed to performing in front of a crowd.

The nine girls in school uniforms took to the stage and, with energetic concentration and smiling faces, performed to Mango Groove's Special Star with a mixture of "Sarafina"-style moves and pantsula.

One of the dancers, Sinawo Sodidi, 12, said she had learnt how to express herself using her body: “My body is flexible in such a way that I can tell you a sad story without even saying something,” she said.

Mthokozisi Khumalo, a student from Rhodes University Community Engagement, told Grocott's Mail<\ital> that he had worked very well with Sakhuluntu.

He said the programme had collaborated with them in teaching the children the dance moves and had also imparted important life lessons.

Fourteen students regularly engage with Sakhuluntu members as part of the community engagement programme and try to help them find creative outlets as a way of encouraging them to stay away from drugs and crime.

Khumalo was pleased that the event had brought residents and members of the cultural group together, but said the children needed more support from their families and the community.

One member of the audience, Thuleka Kula, said the most important thing about Sakhuluntu was that it encouraged children to avoid drugs. She thanked the organisation for teaching their children the dance moves.