Concert | Dance

Cultural Diversity of Dance

Lorraine Beresford and Sandra Barrett

The Devon Crossings project has influenced these dances which are performed by some groups of high school students.

The Crossings project gave teachers an opportunity to take part in a culture visit to Cape Town, South Africa last October. During this visit Lorraine Beresford, Dance teacher visited township schools, University of Cape Town and Cape Town National Art Gallery where she experienced the art, music and dance of this area. Two of the dances performed are directly influenced by this visit and promote cultural diversity and mood of two expressive themes encountered during this project.

The Whispering Minotaurs

Has been directly influenced by the 3D sculpture of the three Butcher Boys' in the National Art gallery in Cape Town.

This eerie work of art depicts life-size, life like creatures of half man and half monster with insipid white pallor and staring eyes which follow your every move. The three sculptures greet you as you enter the gallery and are the inspiration for this dance. Music will be created by dubbing whispers and sounds to complement the setting up. Three boys from St Luke's High school will perform this dance and their costumes will retain the authenticity of the original sculptures. Compelling to view. Through the mask this chaotic cruel plane of existence and inhumanity reveals a new calm order which is celebrated through the harmony of movement, dance and imagery.

(The Butcher Boys. Jane Alexander 1985-86. Mixed media. South African National Gallery)

The Gumboot Dance

This originated over 100 years ago in many different areas of South Africa from the miners to the dockers this style of dance is current in the black communities and still performed today in Xhosa and Zulu communities. Its origins lie in the Irish step dancing of sets with African influences of movement and is always performed by the dancers in boots or wellies of the working man! The music used for this piece is provided by the Soweto string Quartet. The costumes are boiler suits - army surplus - reworked to look brighter with the influence of African colour. This dance is performed by St Luke's High School Year 10 GCSE dancers.