As the dancers of Ndihambile (journeys people travel) come on stage to wow the small crowd at St Andrew’s hall through dance, the three-part dance piece Ndihambile, Kwantaba and The Journey, choreographed by Yuhl Headman and Sbonakaliso Ndaba movingly depicts the journeys people take through life.
As the dancers of Ndihambile (journeys people travel) come on stage to wow the small crowd at St Andrew’s hall through dance, the three-part dance piece Ndihambile, Kwantaba and The Journey, choreographed by Yuhl Headman and Sbonakaliso Ndaba movingly depicts the journeys people take through life.
The people we meet on these journeys, the choices we make and how we touch other people’s lives was demonstrated powerfully and accurately.
There was some humour for the audience during the performance by the Sibikwa Arts Dance Company, when one of the dancers pulled up his “dress” and with great shock found that he was actually a man.
Known for their innovative and cutting-edge work, these dancers kept the crowd on the edge of their seats with the corresponding musical sounds that kept interest on the performance at all times.
The second part of the dance piece, Kwantaba, depicted, in depth, the process and challenging journey that young Xhosa men are obliged to go through in order to enter manhood, by undergoing circumcision and enduring physical hardships. Both are required before coming back to the community and being called a man, or indoda.
This particular piece explored this controversial rite of passage, raising questions about whether these boys are ready to become men. It dealt with a society which ridicules a black boy above the age of eighteen who has not been circumcised and depicted the consequences of going to the mountains to become that man while you are not ready, and which might lead to death.
Lastly, the final part of the dance piece was The Journey, which focused more on the spiritual, or internal, journey that one has to take, and which may be a confusing and difficult at times because it deals with emotions and personal growth.
This piece was packed with passion, energy, excitement and intrigue.
*Nolubabalo Yantolo is a third-year journalism student at Walter Sisulu University and commenced a six-month internship with Grocott’s Mail on 1 July.
