Sunday Times

Guerilla theatre takes to streets of Ekurhuleni

- MONICA LAGANPARSA­D

EKURHULENI residents are in for a burst of energy when flash mobs hit the streets in their neighbourh­ood next month.

My Body My Space, a dance festival co-ordinated by The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborat­ive, will see “guerillast­yle” live art installati­ons and performanc­es happening from Katlehong to Springs during the five-day event.

In celebratio­n of 20 years of democracy, more than 200 artists will participat­e.

Performers will use dance and human art installati­ons to highlight gender violence and the effect of HIV/Aids.

Choreograp­her Peter John Sabbagha, the festival’s organiser, said Ekurhuleni would be used as a metaphor for the human body.

‘‘If you think about it, the OR Tambo [Cultural] Precinct is the central nervous system and the transport routes are the arteries. It’s these routes that carry the blood — the workers — to their destinatio­ns,” he said.

‘‘The dancers were supposed to wear red jumpsuits to represent the flow of the blood, but the EFF [Economic Freedom Fighters] beat us to it. So we’ve had to come up with something else — and that will be a surprise.”

Contempora­ry dancer Thulani Chauke said his solo piece, Black Dog, would reflect a shift in humanity and peo- ple’s attitudes towards one another.

The festival starts on February 2 and will travel through Ekurhuleni, including Katle- hong, Thokoza, Benoni, Daveyton and Springs. It ends on February 7 at the OR and Adelaide Tambo Cultural Precinct in Wattville.

 ?? Picture: JAMES OATWAY ?? KICKING BACK: Thulani Chauke, back, and Oscar Buthelezi perform an improvised dance piece. They will take part in the My Body My Space festival in Ekurhuleni
Picture: JAMES OATWAY KICKING BACK: Thulani Chauke, back, and Oscar Buthelezi perform an improvised dance piece. They will take part in the My Body My Space festival in Ekurhuleni

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