Renowned dancer confirmed for Plett Arts Fest
Plettenberg Bay’s winter programme has become even hotter with Plett Tourism’s announcement that renowned dancer and choreographer Mamela Nyamza will be opening the fifth annual Plett Arts Festival.
Nyamza will not only entertain festinos with a dazzling yet serious performance on the opening night of the festival, but she will also be hosting a dance workshop during her time in the town.
Colourful events and activities
The festival, from 25 June to 9 July, will feature a variety of colourful events and activities – from international performances to unique cultural activities.
Plett Tourism spokesperson Patty Butterworth says this year’s festival will largely revolve around an African Renaissance theme, set to give festivalgoers a glimpse into different cultures.
Nyamza will perform her new De-Apart-Hate Dance piece on 25 June at 19:00 in the Piesang Valley Hall, and will host her dance workshop at the same venue the previous day.
In De-Apart-Hate Dance, Nyamaza, with Aphiwe Livi, confronts prejudice in a multilayered piece that reflects the complexities of current issues in society and the world. She says it is not overtly about apartheid or about race, but more about power structures.
“My work is about unsteadiness and anxiety. It’s about shifting, shuffling, readjusting discomforts as well as personal and collective battles against intolerant systems. My work embodies not only defiance but dismantling and detonating all those institutional myths and fallacies that keep people apart,” Nyamza says.
Jazz also on the menu
Other items on the programme residents and visitors can look forward to include AfriDocs in Plett, Plett AfroJazz with jazz masters Pops Mohamed, Dave Reynolds, Ronan Skillen and Charlton Daniels, other live performances, fashion workshops and much more. Plett’s Main Street will become a hive of activity again with music, pop-up art exhibitions, street performances and street food during the Twilight Meander.
A popular feature on the festival programme will be back yet again: the Plett Food and Film Festival will offer a feast for the eyes and tastebuds.
A full programme and tickets can be obtained from www.pletttourism.com and Quicket.