About the performance

A dance and spoken word piece exploring the experiences of three strong women from South Africa and the UK, KEUSE explores the profound ways that a simple choice we make can affect or change our lives forever. The piece fuses popular and street dance-culture, spoken word, live and recorded music with ballet, contemporary and traditional African dance styles.

Key Personnel

Jane Sekonya-John - Choreographer / Performer
Michaela Waldram-Jones - Producer
Mamela Nyamza - Performer
OneNess - Performer

Production Information

Running time at full length: 1 hour

Use of light text

Use of recorded and live music

Requires a clear understanding of English. Some text in SeSotho, SePedi, Isi Xhosa and IsiZulu.

Touring Information

Small scale show (up to 400 seats)

Appropriate for a studio setting

Number of people on tour: 4

Number of peformers on stage: 3

Availability to tour Spring-Autumn 2012

Suitable for rural touring

Company History

Born and Bred in Katlehong, Johannesburg and trained at Johannesburg Dance foundation in 1988 and Ballet Rambert Jane now lives in London where she has developed her own movement style 'AfroFuze': a fusion of contemporary, classical, African and ‘street’ dance styles. For over 10 years she has choreographed her own work including 'Spoti', 'Solitary Surprize', 'A Period Piece' and 'IVAN' a duet with Jonzi D. Jane recently performed 'Spoti' to great acclaim at the SF Hip Hop Dance Theatre Festival 2010

Recent Productions / Tours

Spoti
Most recently performed at the SF Hip-Hop dance festival and Breakin Convention 2010. ’ One of the most moving and wildly applauded works…the deftly and economically choreographed Spoti. 'She donned an old spoti — fisherman's cap — and transformed herself from a limping, bent old woman into a victorious (though scar-bearing) freedom fighter.’ http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=SNTpDwWr2T8

Day 1
Collaboration and performance with poet Zena Edwards.Commisioned for the HIP festival, performed at the Place Theatre & Purcell room 2007

Ivan
Based on the experience of being caught up in Hurricane Ivan. With Jonzi D. Co-commissioned by Arnolfini and Hydroponic. Originally performed Lilian Baylis Theatre 2006 and national tour.

Reviews

‘Ivan proves aptly that hip hop theatre is an innovative art form which deserves to be taken seriously. Tackling themes like gender roles, relationship dynamics and cultural identity, Ivan is as much a tour de force of human emotions as a multi-layered performance of dance, rap poetry, drama, film and music.’ Khue PhamTHE STAGE, 2006

‘Jane Sekonya-John ruled the stage at the SF Hip-Hop Dance Fest…One of the most moving and wildly applauded works was Jane Sekonya-John's deftly and economically choreographed Spoti. She donned an old spoti — fisherman's cap — and transformed herself from a limping, bent old woman into a victorious (though scar-bearing) freedom fighter.’ Rita Felciano: SanFrancisco Bay Guardian, 2010.