Masilo’s Giselle breaks barriers

Acclaimed dancer has relocated classic piece to rural SA, with a sangoma

It takes a brave individual like Dada Masilo to create her own interpretation of a western classic ballet piece such as

Giselle.

Masilo is known for challenging stereotypes and breaking new ground.

She has previously interpreted classic pieces such as Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake and Carmen. In Giselle, she continues to break some rules, adding a bit of a local twist.

Giselle premiered last night at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. After a run at the festival, the show is set to go to Vienna, Germany and Singapore.

Masilo says giving these western classics her own interpretation is a way of challenging herself to grow as a choreographer.

“I wanted to improve in the way I tell a story. But interpreting this piece was challenging, because I wanted it to be different from the previous ones.”

Giselle is a romantic ballet that tells the story of a beautiful peasant girl who steals the heart of Duke Albrecht of Silesia, a young nobleman.

But Albrecht is set to marry Bathilde, daughter of the Duke of Courtland. The Duke disguises himself as a peasant while he continues to woo the innocent Giselle, who knows nothing of his true identity.

Meanwhile, Bathilde is charmed by Giselle’s sweet and demure nature, oblivious of her relationship with Albrecht. Tragedy strikes after Giselle learns of the Duke’s deception, and dies of a broken heart. However, in Masilo’s interpretation, Giselle does not die, instead plots her revenge.

The award-winning choreographer has even added the part of a sangoma, just to give it a dramatic and South African feel.

The original Giselle is set in Paris, France, while Masilo’s is based in rural South Africa.

“I have added things that people can relate to. I have broken some rules, but you need to know them first to be able to break them.” Masilo is known for questioning gender and racial stereotypes, and most of her interpretations are deemed controversial. Challenging gender and sexual stereotypes, Masilo uses long skirts which are worn by both male and female Dancer Dada Masilo. dancers. The move confuses the audience as they cannot differentiate between male and female.

Born in 1985, the acclaimed dancer performs at the National Arts Festival after seven years of not performing in the country.

She began dancing at the age of 10, with an all-girl group in Meadowlands. She also attended the National School of the Arts.

After a year as a trainee at Cape Town’s Jazzart Dance Theatre, she was accepted at the Performing Arts Research and Training Studios in Brussels, where she spent two years.

When she returned to South Africa in 2006, she began to create her own works. Swan Lake has toured throughout France and also to six cities in Italy.