I’ll waste no time in saying South Africa’s award-winning Mamela Nyamza’s HATCHED ENSEMBLE is one of the most perfectly synchronized choreography I’ve had the pleasure of seeing. For 70 minutes, it is nothing short of mesmerising from start to finish.
From the stark lighting, to the simple stage design, stunning vocals and the delicate and graceful movements, I was captivated by the 10 strong dancers (Itumeleng Chiloane, Zandile Constable, Dineo Mapoma, Kearabetswe Mogotsi, Noluyanda Mqulwana, Kirsty Ndawo, Pavishen Paideya, Amohelang Rooiland, Thimna Sitokisi, Thamsanqa Tshabalala), their costumes and the subtle yet bold dance work. They are perfectly accompanied by rousing opera singer Litho Nqai and African traditional multi-instrumentalist, Given “Azah” Mphago to provide us with a performance which is truly unmissable. This is a follow on from Nyamza’s solo production HATCHED which actually featured in Dance Umbrella Festival 2011.
Nyamza is a choreographer, dancer, director, activist, mother and trained ballet dancer and the hatched ensemble of men and women challenge western perception of gender norms, what and who a classical ballet dancer and what should adorn their bodies when performing.
Let’s take a moment to focus on the magnificent costumes, actually. When I saw the trailer, this was one of the things I found most striking. Such delicate, intricate designs of white tuille skirts with clothes pegs gently click-clacking, which perfectly complement the western inspired production which dissects womanhood, sexuality, motherhood, and marriage juxtaposed with African traditions.
The pace starts of slow as we are serenaded by Saint-Saëns’s The Swan (The Dying Swan), the dancers glide from the left to centre of the stage whilst seated on the floor– it barely looks like they are moving at all such is the smooth synchronisation. For the rest of the show, the ballet dancers, perform en pointe until the last act where they are bare-footed and the contrasting African music uplifts and soothes and provides us with deeply personal spiritual awakening.
HATCHED ENSEMBLE has been wowing audiences around the world, and I can’t urge you enough to see this once in a lifetime work of awe-inspiring, poetic dance art and we can’t wait to see what Nyamza delights us with next.
What an fantastic way to launch the 46th Dance Umbrella Festival.
NEED TO KNOW | Mamela Nyamza: HATCHED ENSEMBLE plays at the Barbican Centre from 9-12 Oct as part of the Dance Umbrella Festival 2024 | Access £15 tickets to HATCHED ENSEMBLE using code HATCHED15. Valid for all performances
