Centre of Somewhere: South Africa Focus
MAMELA NYAMZA
(South Africa)

BLACK PRIVILEGE

FRI 20 OCTOBER 2023 21:00 - 22:00

SAT 21 OCTOBER 2023 15:00 - 16:00

£12 - £8 (Concessions)
Tramway (Directions)

Content note: Contains nudity. 13+

ACCESS: V (Festival Access Page).
This work is predominantly visual with minimal text that is captioned.

BLACK PRIVILEGE is a layered piece that reflects complexities of current issues in our art world. Nyamza’s work is not overtly about an achieved privilege by Black people. It is an interrogation of the concept “privilege”, in a society in which people are judged and rejected on the basis that include, and not limited to race, gender, sexual orientation, and class. Hypocrisy and justice are themes that are explored in this work. The work has been inspired by all the unsung heroines/women who have been and still are isolated and refrained from contributing to the development of their immediate societies. These heroines are still “crawling” on the floor, seeking reprieve from recluse.

The South African choreographer and art activist, Ms. Mamela Nyamza, is formally trained in Ballet, and got further training at the Alvin Ailey New York School of Dance as visiting scholar. This is where Nyamza began to tackle the classical genre of dance, by deconstructing the traditional methods and logic of ballet and contemporary dance. Her ground-breaking works, “The Dying Swan” – innovation in the dance in 1998; “Hatched” – against patriarchy in 2007, and the “The Meal” – against elitist ballet in 2012, are autobiographical works that trample on the norms of the classics.
www.mamelasartisticmovement.co.za

Show Credits:

CONCEIVED, CREATED, CHOREOGRAPHED & DIRECTED BY: Mamela Nyamza
PERFORMED BY: Mamela Nyamza
DRAMATURGE: Sello Pesa
FEATURED ARTIST: Given Ngobeni
BODY PAINTING & COSTUME DESIGN: Linda Mandela
LIGHTING & STAGE DESIGNER: Wilhelm Disbergen
ASSISTANT: Mr. Buntu Tyali

Production credits: Makhanda Standard Bank National Arts Festival; National Arts Council

Photos: 2. Chris de Beer, 4. Ursula Kauffmann

Black Privilege is presented as part of the Centre of Somewhere South Africa focus, funded by the British Council International Collaboration programme.