Audience watching the different performances at FNCC.
The internationally acclaimed OYO dance troupe is just ending another successful tour!
Together is a collection of six dances created by OYO during 2009. It is not meant to tell people what to do, or what not to do. But Together tells a story. The story of the youth of today. The six pieces presented are ‘memories of joy’, ‘denying’, ‘twins’, ‘dumped’, ‘MCSP’ and ‘modern love’. Performed by 10 talented young people, the one-hour long show travelled to Omusati, Kunene and Erongo regions between 15 and 27 November 09. The show was presented in schools and communities where it received great praise.
While some venues were challenging (floor with interlocks, small stages, small halls, electricity cuts in both Kamanjab and Usakos), all the shows went well. Performers adapted extremely well to the venues and made the best of it. Audiences were very supportive and often impressed by lifts and moves.
Upon return, the troupe presented the piece in Windhoek as part of the World AIDS Day celebration. It took part in the celebration organised by the City of Windhoek and the one organised by AIDS Care Trust. It had its own show on 02 December at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC).
The show at the FNCC was well attended. Officials such H.E the Ambassador of the Republic of France and representatives from the Ministry of Health and Social Services/Global Fund attended, alongside TV station OneAfricaTV, the press and friends of OYO. Comments received were extremely positive, with one lady saying at the end: ‘this show should be compulsory for all secondary schools in the country to see. Next year, you should tour it all around Namibia and make sure all teenagers see it!’
Choreography by Philippe Talavera
Except ‘dumped’, choreography by Zoie Golding and Philippe Talavera
and ‘memories of joy’, choreography by the OYO troupe
Performers
Cecilie Gabriel, Julien Geirises, Estomine Haradoes, Lydia Ndhikwa,
Irmolie Aibeb, Zito da Cunha, Jekson Hangula,
Norman Kapunda, Nyandee Mbarandongo, Daniel Ndume
Memories of Joy
Choreography: the OYO cast
Memories of Joy is a happy piece celebrating memories, youth, happy moments we share in our lives. This piece is the first creation by the OYO cast and demonstrates their incredible potential not only as dancers but also as creators of dance.
Denying
Choreography: Philippe Talavera
Denying is a piece using humour to talk about teenage pregnancy. Young people enjoy having sex, but when confronted by the reality of life, they often run away. This piece was first created for the Khorixas Youth Group and was subsequently taught to different groups.
Twins
Choreography: Philippe Talavera
A lot is said about teenage pregnancy and the difficulties a young person may have to raise a child. But what if instead of falling pregnant with one child, a teenager falls pregnant with twins. The piece is looking at the reality of raising babies while one’s friends are still out there enjoying their lives. A longer version of the piece was first presented in Windhoek at the Goethe Centre in August 2009
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Dumped
Choreography: Zoie Golding and Philippe Talavera
For many teenagers falling pregnant is ‘the end of the world’. If they don’t get any support (for instance their boyfriend rejects them and/or their parents throw them out of the house), they may get so desperate that they can end up committing a crime and dumping their babies. Dumped was created in collaboration with Fuzzylogic, a male youth troupe from the UK, and was meant for 20 dancers. It had to be adapted for this presentation.
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MCSP
Choreography: Philippe Talavera
The new trend in the HIV/AIDS awareness campaign in Namibia is to talk about ‘Multiple Concurrent Sexual Partners’ or MCSP. This is such a dry phrase to simply mean: ‘cheating on your partner’! Many people in Namibia are not faithful. This is one of the main reasons why HIV spreads so quickly. This fast piece looks at how, from one person discovering her HIV positive status, her partners, the partners of her partners and their partners all end up infected. This piece has been created specially to mark the World AIDS Day 2009.
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Modern love
Choreography: Philippe Talavera
In modern Namibia young people seeking love and understanding are faced with many challenges such as HIV, domestic violence, unemployment and migration. Love in modern Namibia is fragile. However, even when destroyed or lost, life goes on for the rest of us. This piece is dedicated to all the people who have died of an AIDS-related illness and have been forgotten. Modern love was first premiered at the National Theatre of Namibia on 27 July 2009.
Tour Manager
Matias Kamati
Assistants Tour manager
Ivan ‘Fly’ Mueze, Cecilia Petrus, Josua Homateni, Barnabas Ochurub
Logistic Windhoek
Evelina Ashipala assisted by Kenneth Halupe and Jacqueline Shaanika
Logistic Omusati and Kunene Region
Lesly Aibeb
Logistic Erongo Region
Hans Haraseb
Finances
Rikondjerua Tjihero
