Dada Masilo (ZA)
Swan Lake
Program
Dada Masilo’s critically acclaimed and celebrated version of Swan Lake has toured the world. Now it’s Stockholm’s turn.
In a country ravaged by AIDS, where homosexuality is taboo, she dares to look the present in the eye, twisting and turning gender, sexuality, identity and culture. Award-winning choreographer Dada Masilo is renowned for taking western classics and seeing them through South African eyes. Schooled in classical ballet and modern dance, which she mixes up with African dance, explosive energy and great humour. This is an intelligent piece filled with symbolism and gestures – high octane!
Her international breakthrough came with Hamlet’s Ophelia. Masilo questioned and played out the protagonist’s madness, while underpinning her vulnerability in a whole new type of expression. Since then, classics such as Romeo and Juliet, Carmen and Death and maiden have been under Masilo’s dance magnifying glass. We have chosen to show her version of Swan Lake, which has toured the world, to great critical acclaim. Twelve dancers on stage portray the tension between love and evil, the constant exploration of timeless conflicts.
Part of “Destination Joburg – Maputo” – a month long celebration of African choreographers, dancers and musicians at Dansens Hus.