AFIA YEBO YES! 12-13 November 2021

Programme

With massive energy, quick feet and brute strength, the pantsula dance style has evolved into a political and social expression for the black population of South Africa's shanty towns. I YEBO YES! the dance style is brought to life and continues to carry its historical power on the Swedish roads.

In the performance YEBO YES! we meet five dancers, Sibusiso, David and Gugu from South Africa who all live and breathe Pantsula, as well as Swedish Theresa and Joanna, freestyle dancers, choreographers and founders of Afia. Together they present a dance full of energy, joy and power. The work's electronic music, together with the dancers' voices and rhythmic sounds, fills the space with a progressive feeling. The performance is an encounter between freestyle and pantsula culture - a work where the dancers explore the encounter between each other and their cultural expression.

ABOUT PANTUSULA

The year was 1950, South Africa was steeped in the politics of racial segregation and the political situation was rapidly becoming a threat to basic human rights. The local black population in the shanty towns grew strongly discontented and in response to the apartheid government's forced relocations, the dance style pantsula was born. A choreographic language to create a new collective identity to express criticism and spread awareness.

Through dance, the oppressed population could express their opposition to the regime. With lightning-fast steps across the ground and intricate, rhythmic footwork, the dancers demonstrated to the authorities that they were both strong and free. That they had their own style and were ready to stand up for their struggle. Pantsula quickly became not just a dance style, but a language and a way of life.

Pantsula retells a story that should never be forgotten. I YEBO YES! its inner power is brought to life and the meeting with the group's basis in street and freestyle creates community and playfulness in a performance that stays with you long after the applause has died down. Read more about armour plating

Debriefing 12 Nov

Welcome to stay for a conversation with AFIA about their artistry, pantsula and how they worked with the performance. Moderator for the conversation is Malin Lundstedt, producer at Dansnät Sweden.

Joanna Holewa Chrona

Dancer/choreographer/producer of the work

Joanna Holewa Chrona is constantly active in various dance-related fields as a dancer, choreographer, teacher and project manager. With her experience in dance and through her many inspirational journeys, she has found a unique way to move and has participated in many large productions both nationally and internationally. Her strength is mainly Freestyle with techniques/inspiration from among others. Popping, Hiphop House, Sabar, isiPantsula and Afro-Cuban. Joanna has spent a lot of time travelling both for work and research purposes, to name a few recurring places that have played a big role in her life: Cuba, Senegal, South Africa, Gabon, Denmark. In the last 5 years Joanna has put a lot of time and effort into her latest constellations: the dance duo "Land Before Time" with Yared Tilahun Cederlund and the non-profit organisation "AFIA" run together with Theresa Gustavsson. AFIA has produced 4 festivals in Stockholm, as well as battles, online classes, live streams and now its first dance performance.

Yared Tilahun Cederlund

The work's music producer

With knowledge as both a dancer and music producer, Yared brings a professional security to the project. He has made the music for "Sorry" by Bambam Frost, "Konflikt" by Ida Holmlund and Alexandr Antochvilli, "Vivrant Thing" by Theresa Gustavsson and Cajsa Godee. He understands the process and often works side by side with the dancers to create the perfect sound for the performance.

Patricia Gugulethu Mofokeng

Dancers of the work

Gugu, which is her nickname, is a very optimistic, passionate and driven person who always carries an "I can" mentality. She started dancing early in life but took her training more seriously when she met "Real Actions Pantsula". Now she is an experienced dancer and collaborates with local artist "Chomi" in South Africa.

Theresa Gustavsson

Dancer/choreographer/producer of the work

Theresa has worked in the street dance scene since 2005 and is today an active freelancer as a dancer, teacher, choreographer and project manager. One of Theresa's strengths is her broad knowledge of the street dance culture and ability to perform multiple styles. Her main dance styles are popping, hip hop, house and locking, but it does not end there, she has a strong interest in cultural dances. As such, she spends a lot of time on cultural exchanges, including in New York, Chicago, Cuba, Jamaica, Senegal, Gabon, Uganda, Ethiopia and South Africa. During her 15 years as an active dancer in the scene, she has co-founded and worked with several groups/companies such as What came out of the Mothership, ATATA, Swedish Family and dokidoki and produced over 30 events such as performances, battles, workshops, camps, festivals, jams and clubs. Theresa lives for culture and works actively to push the Streetdance scene forward both in Sweden and abroad.

David Oriel Mokale

Dancers of the work

David is a hard-working artist when it comes to his art. He started dancing in his early teens. He started with "Real Actions Pantsula" which is one of the leading Pantsula companies in South Africa. He saw dancing as an occupation and a means to get away from the streets, drugs and criminal activities. He tells his story through dance and it is his great passion. Today he travels around the world to teach Pantsula.

Sibusiso Doctor Mthembu

Dancers of the work and Pantsula choreographer

Sibusiso Mthembu is a dancer/choreographer and educator from Johannesburg, South Africa. Dance and music have been part of his life for as long as he can remember. He joined the company "Real Actions Pantsula" at the age of 11 when he met Sello Modiga and was already a professional at the age of 18. Sibusiso is always active with different artists/events/performances both nationally and internationally. He is a true artist who is also involved in non-profit cultural events to help develop the community where he lives.

AFIA

Afia is a non-profit organisation that aims to broaden the range of cultural expressions in Sweden through self-produced cultural events and performing arts, mainly focusing on African cultural dances and street dance from the African diaspora. Through culture, Afia wants to spread joy, community, inspiration, knowledge and history and open up more opportunities for co-operation between art practitioners.

The association is run by Joanna Holewa Chrona and Theresa Gustavsson, they are a strong duo who together and on their own have been active in the street dance scene in Sweden for the past 10 years. They have for many years battled and in different contexts created events and stage performances. With the common interest in culture, they have travelled together for the purpose of dance to Senegal, Gabon and South Africa. For the past 4 years, they have organised the festival "Afia Presents Pantsula" with invited guests from South Africa and since 2019 they are active with their first self-produced performance "YEBO YES!"

Credits

The performance goes on tour with Dansnät Sweden. The tour starts at Dansens Hus and then goes on to:

15 November: Malmö, Dansstationen
17 November: Vara, Vara Konserthus/Sparbanken black box.
23-24 November: Umeå, Ersboda Folkets Hus
26 November: Falun, Dalateatern
30 November: Jönköping, Kulturhuset Spira