‘YAZUKE’ explores African contemporary dance in an unconventional space

The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Centre for Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies in collaboration with Baba Yaya Performing Arts Academy presented YAZUKE – a site-specific contemporary African dance production – at the forge of master blacksmith Conrad Hicks in the Bijou Building, Observatory. YAZUKE draws together African contemporary dance, martial movement, ritual performance, live music and the introspective qualities found within Japanese avant-garde theatre through movement, music and ritual. The production was created and directed by Mandla Mbothwe and Benjamin Nivison, with Maxwell Xolani Rani as the choreographic director.