ART OF MOVEMENT A er 70 pe ormances of since 2014, Adelene Stanley still feels bu e lies in her tummy before the cu ain rises

Inala

LIKE MOST BALLERINAS, Adelene Stanley started dancing at three. She enrolled in SOTA when she was 13, then went on to train at Rambert School in London, where she graduated with First-Class Honours.

She is currently setting stages on fire with her energy in Inala, the Zulu ballet that was conceived to mark 20 years of democracy in South Africa, but has since gone on to become a celebration of diversity.

We’ve heard so many great things about Inala. Personally, how has it been for you to be involved in this multi-award winning production?

As a dancer I found collaborating with the choreographer to be really exciting. Being an original cast member in a new production also meant that there was no existing character I could refer to ‒ I had to figure the character out on my own. Wouldn’t it be amazing to be credited for developing the character if Inala is still being performed years and years from now?

We’re in Singapore watching a Zulu-themed ballet. In what ways do you think Inala draws the crowd in?

Traditional ballets tend to be dreamy, almost fairytale-like. However, Inala exhilarates both the performers and the audiences with its fusion of cultures on stage, and delivers this with an unbridled raw energy. Without giving too much away, the music also plays a huge role in making the act stand out from other ballet performances.

It must be amazing performing to music produced by the Grammy Award-winning choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Grammy-nominated composer Ella Spira. Do you have favourite pieces?

Tough one, because there are so many. But some include ‘Usizi’, a beautiful song with an intimate vibe that accompanies a solo dance. Another will be ‘Siyo Phinda Futhi Sibonane’, which is a touching song about going back home. And I think everyone is going to love ‘Woza Sambe’. It ends the show with a bang.

How does it feel to represent Singapore in an internationally-acclaimed Zulu ballet?

God, the pressure. But I hope I can make Singapore proud. I also feel honoured because not many Asians (let alone Singaporeans) get represented. The dance industry is very competitive, so it is a