It was a series of unfortunate events that drew East Londoner Vuyo Mahashe to dance.
That and an unforgettable dance scene from British movie Billy Elliot which Mahashe covered as part of an English film study assignment in his Grade 11 year at Cambridge High School.
Seventeen years-old and having lost his mother, Mahashe received another blow with the passing of his grandfather, leaving him and his younger sister in the sole care of his grandmother.
Having never been allowed the opportunity to deal with the two deaths and three car accidents which subsequently followed, Mahashe recalls that he was left with no outlet for his grief either than dance.
After enlisting for both dance and drama as subjects at school, Mahashe then began training with Karin Wilkie Dance Academy in Selborne where he was taught by the late Geraldine Cross.
Now the 21-year-old is a student dancer with the Cape Academy of Performing Arts in Cape Town.
This is a move he hails as both an honour and a blessing as it gives him the opportunity to work with renowned dancers and choreographers including Bradley Shelver and Christopher L Huggins.
It is through this company that Mahashe features in the dance production Blue, which made its debut at the Grahamstown Arts Festival yesterday.
Blue is a culmination of soul wrenching, dramatic classical music coupled with beautifully choreographed ballet moves that left the audience in absolute awe.
Though featuring in most sets, Mahashe is in the spotlight for a few minutes in a personal piece, with an accompanying voice-over detailing the hardship of his childhood.
Speaking after the show, Mahashe said the production really challenged him as a dancer because of the technique and quality of the performance.
“It’s a good show but gruelling at the same time,” he said.
“But it was wonderful to have been given the opportunity to challenge myself like this and wonderful to see what I managed to produce. It was a real learning experience, especially working with my peers.”
Director Debbie Turner said she found the show to be highly skilled.
“What excites the most about these dancers is that they’re so committed to their craft and I think their dedication is evident to the audience.
“In fact their dedication is so intoxicating that it draws you in,” Turner said, adding that the show featured more male dancers than any production they had ever done before.
“There is a shortage of men in dance. It’s not just in South Africa but the world over.”
Mahashe said he aspired to create a truly South African ballet telling stories unique to the country.
“Many people in South Africa cannot relate to classical ballet, as great a teacher as it is for the body, because they don’t see themselves on stage,” he said.
Turner said Blue was sold out for today’s and Monday’s performances but they were in talks to have another show on Tuesday. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
Tragedy drew Vuyo to dance
That and an unforgettable dance scene from British movie Billy Elliot which Mahashe covered as part of an English film study assignment in his Grade 11 year at Cambridge High School.
Seventeen years-old and having lost his mother, Mahashe received another blow with the passing of his grandfather, leaving him and his younger sister in the sole care of his grandmother.
Having never been allowed the opportunity to deal with the two deaths and three car accidents which subsequently followed, Mahashe recalls that he was left with no outlet for his grief either than dance.
After enlisting for both dance and drama as subjects at school, Mahashe then began training with Karin Wilkie Dance Academy in Selborne where he was taught by the late Geraldine Cross.
Now the 21-year-old is a student dancer with the Cape Academy of Performing Arts in Cape Town.
This is a move he hails as both an honour and a blessing as it gives him the opportunity to work with renowned dancers and choreographers including Bradley Shelver and Christopher L Huggins.
It is through this company that Mahashe features in the dance production Blue, which made its debut at the Grahamstown Arts Festival yesterday.
Blue is a culmination of soul wrenching, dramatic classical music coupled with beautifully choreographed ballet moves that left the audience in absolute awe.
Though featuring in most sets, Mahashe is in the spotlight for a few minutes in a personal piece, with an accompanying voice-over detailing the hardship of his childhood.
Speaking after the show, Mahashe said the production really challenged him as a dancer because of the technique and quality of the performance.
“It’s a good show but gruelling at the same time,” he said.
“But it was wonderful to have been given the opportunity to challenge myself like this and wonderful to see what I managed to produce. It was a real learning experience, especially working with my peers.”
Director Debbie Turner said she found the show to be highly skilled.
“What excites the most about these dancers is that they’re so committed to their craft and I think their dedication is evident to the audience.
“In fact their dedication is so intoxicating that it draws you in,” Turner said, adding that the show featured more male dancers than any production they had ever done before.
“There is a shortage of men in dance. It’s not just in South Africa but the world over.”
Mahashe said he aspired to create a truly South African ballet telling stories unique to the country.
“Many people in South Africa cannot relate to classical ballet, as great a teacher as it is for the body, because they don’t see themselves on stage,” he said.
Turner said Blue was sold out for today’s and Monday’s performances but they were in talks to have another show on Tuesday. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
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