SWAN LAKE
Dada Masilo, one of the most exciting young choreographers in South Africa, brushes the dust from Swan Lake and adds her own South African roots to it. The result is a respectful, fresh version that raises questions about gender boundaries and homophobia in an AIDS-affected country.
Grote Zaal
Duration: 1 h 10 min, no intermission
‘Dada Masilo turns Chaykovksi on his head’ – NY Times
Masilo's revision of Swan Lake was very well received at the International Dance Biennale in Lyon and during the performance at the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris. The performance was praised for her successful mix of pointes technique and contemporary dance with powerful African roots. Swan Lake visits Tchaikovsky's unforgettable classic with passion, fun and humour.
Dada Masilo (1985) grew up in the impoverished district of Soweto. She studied classical and contemporary dance in South Africa, and then did two years at the Brussels PARTS, the famous dance school founded by choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker. By combining her training with the traditions of African dance, she developed a unique, recognisable style.
Masilo founded her own company in 2008 and became a celebrity in South Africa. With her enchanting adaptations of important classics from the Western dance repertoire, she soon became a star on the international scene as well.