The cast of 22 dancers features the trainees, who dance alongside the company members, to showcase their now advanced performance and choreographic skills. They dance to recorded music and accompaniment by a live band to music composed by Thandile Mandela and Mthwakazi, under the musical direction of Ntone Edjabe.
Mandela has a master's degree in African Music from the University of Cape Town and has a broad knowledge of traditional music and instruments. She has performed throughout South Africa (featuring in Jazzart's Guardian of the Flame) as well as in London and Paris.
After curtain up, Waiting for Rain looked promising. Jazzart dancers seem to exude a dynamic energy and excitement when they perform in a particular style to specific rhythms. This was most evident at the opening and closing of the show.
The choreography by Mziyanda Mancam, Ina Wichterich-Mogane and Manyaapelo is typically athletic and the execution strong. One has to wonder, though, how much more work has to reflect revival, rebirth and cleansing as Manyaapelo describes it. The artistic handover process is long over (she took over the reins 18 months ago) and the dust has settled.
The lead vocalist dominated the second act of Waiting for Rain as the dancers performed sequences on two sections of revolving stage, perpetuating the first-act use of benches as props. Barefoot, as always, the men wore black tie while the women changed into evening gowns. The costuming for this choreography was distracting for this reviewer.
The stage was quite stark, with no wings, and a splash of red draped over a single-stair platform towards the rear. This was used to cover the stage towards the end of the first act as the men demonstrated their prowess working in and around large silver tubs containing water. The cover was rolled back to its original position in the second act to catch the "rain" as it began to fall, but the effect was miniscule because the "rainfall" was so far from the audience.
For those more familiar with Jazzart work - as good as it is and despite this performance being designed as a reflection of three years' training - it's become too predictable.
That being said, since Manyaapelo took over as artistic director, there has been significant new audience development - they are young and vigorous in their support and appreciation of Jazzart productions. This was no exception.
Waiting for Rain is on at 8.15pm on 21 and 22 September at Artscape. Tickets are R100 or R50 for block bookings of 20 or more at Computicket (0861 915 8000) or call Artscape's Dial-a Seat on +27 (0)21 421 7695.
