Setting (LGBTI) record straight
CHOREOGRAPHER and dancer Thami Tshabalala interrogates the subject of homosexuality in his latest work.
will be presented at the Dance Umbrella at Wits Theatre as part of the young artist’s programme on March 5.
The piece comes at the right time when the topic of homosexuality is dominating the social discourse.
The piece tackles stigmatisation and how most countries in Africa still view gay relationships as “unnatural”.
It’s set in a mine where a lot of gays are closeted. “I decided to set the whole work in the mining sector. This is where the real stuff happens. Homosexuals find it hard to come out because working in the mine is a job for ‘real men’. This is where the ‘men don’t cry’ attitude exists.”
Tshabalala, 25, defines the story as a simple narrative that people will relate to easily. He says
is a story of two individuals in love, but they are aware that loving each other openly will bring them unpleasant consequences. “I’m sure if someone were to come out and say he is gay in that environment, they will be killed. They could easily starve you Thami Tshabalala highlights the stereotype of society with regards to homosexuality in his choreography. to death in that shaft.”
Tshabalala says he was inspired to create the dance piece after listening to an interview of Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni about homosexuals. In the interview with CNN, Museveni said homosexuals were “disgusting”.
“I listened to him and how he detested homosexuals. The piece is also motivated by the killing and raping of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) people in South Africa. I decided to highlight those issues because I was almost raped by guys myself. They said they wanted to make me a man.”
Born in Naledi, Soweto, he says the piece was inspired by his own life experience having gone through a lot of rejection as a gay man. He says his family found it hard to accept his sexual orientation.
“I went through a lot of rejection from my family and people around me. I’m my father’s only son, and I am supposed to continue with the family name. I think I can still do it with the technology of today, and laboratory insemination. But things got better as I grew older, meeting people who understand me.”
Tshabalala’s interest in performing arts started while still at primary school. His parents took him to National School of the Arts.
He also studied dance at the Tshwane University of Technology.
He is also set to perform the piece at the State Theatre under K-Mad Dance company.