Carmina Burana Collaboration Brings Dance Work To Life With Inter-Generational Cast
Show on at UJ Theatre 27 And 28 March 2025
By CityLife Arts Writer
The dance work, “Carmina Burana”, was first performed in Holstebro, Denmark in 2016, and is being re-staged for Moving Into Dance (MID) by Denmark-based Melody Putu. It is a collaboration between MID, Soweto-born Putu, Denmark-based Artistic Director of Holstebro Dance Company, Marie Brolin-Tani and Foot Expression Dance Company in Klerksdorp, North-West Province.
Using the rich composition of Carl Orff’s music, “Carmina Burana” (first performed in 1937), which takes as inspiration beautiful medieval poetry from the 11th century containing lyrics about love, beauty, nature and loneliness, Putu’s evocative choreography embraces diverse bodies, ages and abilities to offer a story of acceptance and inclusion.
“Carmina Burana” explores diversity and the eternal marginalisation of individuals within society who are seen to be different or differently-abled. MID, under the artistic directorship of Sunnyboy Mandla Motau, has brought together a company of varying ages and abilities to breathe life into this powerful contemporary dance work. Guest artist Tebogo Lelaletse lives and works in Klerksdorp and dances with Klaas Kompi’s Foot Expression Dance Company. He began training in 2018 and has worked with Unmute Dance Company in Cape Town. There are four MID trainees in the work in addition to the core company members and Teboho Letele, a former MID graduate and dancer, now Operations Manager for the company. Tammy Ballantyne Webber joins the work in the role of the Mother, having had an association with MID for well over 23 years.
Putu, who spent an intensive few weeks in Johannesburg mounting the work on the company, teaches full-time at the ballet school connected to Holstebro Dance Company. Putu and Brolin-Tani have a close and long relationship with MID, having created workshops, performances and outreach programmes in previous years. MID’s work in the inclusive dance space makes them the ideal partner for this project. Putu said:
“Moving Into Dance is an extraordinary institution with both a strong company and a vibrant education programme. The dancers are great artists; open-minded and beautiful to work with. We hope for a long and ongoing collaboration.”
“Carmina Burana” has two performances on 27 and 28 March at 19:00 at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Theatre, Kingsway, Auckland Park.
The Carmina Burana Production is supported by the National Arts Council, the Presidential Employment Stimulus Fund, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, and the Ministry of Culture Denmark. Bookings and queries: admin@midance.co.za or Whatsapp 073 357 8393. Tickets cost R100.
About Carmina Burana
Choreography: Melody Putu
Assistant to the Choreographer: Marie Brolin-Tani
Lighting Design: Hans-Olof Tani
Costumes: Holstebro Dance Company.
Music: “Carmina Burana” by Carl Orff