Feverishly paced festival now Infecting the City

TWO gripping performance-art pieces, part of the public arts festival Infecting the City, took place at St George’s Mall, where artists displayed dance and provoking choreographed movements to signify social issues.

Curator Khanyisile Mbongwa said the performances signified the intersection between religion, tradition and aspects of modernity. The second performance, called

Ingcibi, reflected on the challenges of social structures.

“The works are generally around the intersection between colonial religion and African tradition. How one has to exist in this double consciousness as a black body.”

The women and men utilised blankets, while they expressed anguish and sorrow.

“It means finding spaces that appear to be hidden... people come into the city every day for work purposes to negotiate their livelihood.”

The first performance by Indoni Dance, Arts & Leadership Academy incorporated gumboot dance, filled with high energy.

Curator Leila Anderson said it was informative and exciting for artists to work in public spaces. Moving Stories Theatre founder Aphiwe Mpahleni executed the choreography for Ingcibi.

Residents from Khayelitsha, Nyanga and Langa came to Moving Stories Theatre in Woodstock to pursue their love for art and dance.

The Infecting the City public art festival is showing from April 5 to 8 in and around the Cape Town CBD. –

PICTURE: COURTNEY AFRICA HIDDEN PLACES, PUBLIC SPACES: This choreographic activation at the Bart Simpson statue in St George’s Mall transforms the shopping precinct into a new dimension of theatre with chance encounters for the public.