Composition
Review
By Benevolence Mazhinji
The Prestige School of Dance presented a delightful and technically ambitious show, Composition, at the Monument last Friday. The show was an impressive display of the school’s diverse curriculum and highlighted the creative contributions of its young and emerging choreographers. The programme was thematically structured around four distinct dance styles: classical, soul, country and pop jazz, with each section offering its own unique kinetic narrative.
The classical section primarily featured various groups of young ballet dancers, showcasing their growing confidence and excellent poise. Their dances flowed with gentle turns and graceful, unhurried movements that highlighted their composure on stage. Accompanied by soothing, melodic music, this segment created an atmosphere of elegance and gentle refinement.
The soul segment included a stunning performance by Kuhle Sinama, who danced to Vusi Nova’s heartbreaking song, Thandiwe. It’s a song about fighting for love and staying together despite the challenges. Sinama’s performance flawlessly translated the song’s themes of longing and devotion, bringing its emotional plea to life on stage. She was fully alive to the emotion of the music, and her visceral facial expressions gave the song a raw, heartfelt intensity.
The country section followed the soulful dances, bringing a lively shift in tone and a burst of spirited energy to the theatre. The different groups of dancers entered in Western-style costumes, some with matching cowboy hats. With this, the genre was immediately clear, and the stage took on a cheerful, theatrical charm. This segment also featured a tap dance solo by Nicole Joka, who added a layer of percussive excitement. Altogether, this genre delivered exactly what audiences would expect from a country-inspired piece, rhythmic dances, clean group formations and a sense of collective fun.
Pop jazz was the last dance genre of the show, and it was a visual spectacle of mostly synchronised dance moves. The dancers performed with highly charismatic energy and flair. In this part of the programme, the audience was also treated to an exceptional tap trio by Mbalentle Quntu, Mihlali Ngqinzi and Nicole Joka. Their performance was an electrifying blend of sparkle and skill.
The final act was a vocal performance of ABBA’s Thank You for the Music by Mila McConnachie, Isabella Tladi and Isabella Mutsaerts. The singers’ clear, melodic tones, supported by gentle harmonies, delivered the song with sincerity, allowing the audience to focus entirely on the lyrics’ message. The choice of song, which celebrates the universal power and joy of music and dance, served as an ideal emotional crescendo. It was a graceful bow that beautifully tied the programme together and concluded the evening on a note of shared appreciation between the performers and their audience.
