Vukani
Meaning to awaken, Vukani explores communion with the elders, a search for guidance, provoking the spirit to take over the body, and showing the way. South African choreographer Mthuthuzeli November deploys his unique choreographic language, informed by both traditional South African (Xhosa) dance and street dance as well as by the Western traditions of ballet and contemporary movement styles.
Choreography by Mthuthuzeli November
Costume Design by Victoria Bek
Lighting Design by Asami Morita
Original Music by Mthuthuzeli November
World Premiere: Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur on July 24, 2024
Run Time: 20 minutes
The creation of Vukani was made possible by Gibney Company’s Rising Voices of Contemporary Dance Fund, with generous support from Andrew A. Davis and the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund, Richard Feldman and The SHS Foundation, and National Endowment for the Arts.
MTHUTHUZELI NOVEMBER
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Mthuthuzeli started dancing at the age of 15 with the outreach programme, Dance For All. In 2011 he was awarded a scholarship to attend the Cape Academy of Performing Arts (CAPA), where He graduated with a Distinction in 2014. He won a gold medal in the Contemporary category in the South Africa International Ballet Competition as a Junior in 2012, and as a senior in 2014. He has worked with Cape Dance Company under the direction of Debbie Turner, with choreographers including Bradley Shelver and Christopher Huggins. Made his debut work in 2014 on Cape Dance Company. In 2015 He danced in the production of West Side Story before joining Ballet Black in September 2015 where he created roles in works of world renowned choregraphers such as Annabelle Lopez- Ochoa. He made his first ballet for Ballet Black, Interrupted in July 2016 and created his own choreographic platform, M22 Movement Lab, collaborating with musicians, composers and designers to create new choreography for stage and film. Mthuthuzeli got an award as South Africa’s Emerging artist at the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK) for his solo work. In 2017, Mthuthu was commissioned by the Cape Dance Company to create two new works ( visceral and The rite of passage ), funded by the National Arts Council of South Africa, which premiered at Artscape Theatre in Cape Town. In 2018, Mthuthu created a solo for Precious Adams of English National Ballet. Has also worked on projects including The Chemical brothers, Sanlam and recently danced and choreographed for British artist Stormzy, headlining the 2019 Glastonbury Festival. In 2019 he was commissioned to make two new works for company Ballet Black, Washa – The burn from the inside and Ingoma. Ingoma nominated for 4 prestigious awards in the UK winning Lawrence Olivier award for best dance production and Black British Theatre awards for best dance production 2020, he was also nominated for best emerging artist. In 2020 he was commissioned to make a work for The Grange festival production Pricipice. Created a winning work for English National Ballet Emerging Dancer 2020. Mthuthuzeli was then commissioned by Cape Town Opera to make Pergolesi Stabat Mater for on Demand online release. In 2021 created a work for Northern Ballet titled What used to, no longer is. He has made a new work co-commissioned by the Barbican Theatre and Ballet titled The waiting game to premiere in 2021.
To receive Gibney Company’s Technical Rider for Vukani, please reach out to Karen Kitchen, Executive Producer, at karen@gibneydance.org.
