The Place, London
November 8, 2024
A truly inspiring evening of dance, Beyond Borders – Afro Dance Xplosion by by Feel the Rhythm Productions was a joyful couple of hours spent in the company of highly skilled dancers presenting a range of African dance styles.
For the show, Carloyn Lilly, founder and CEO of Afro Dance Xpolsion, and award winning dance advocate, brought together leading dancers, youth and student companies in a programme of breathless energy and technical ability. Alongside that, was a workshop, a A conversation on the sustainability of African Dance and Dance in the African Diaspora in the UK, and a networking event.
The show comprises seven short compositions, each showcasing a different aspect of African dance. These were bookended with two ensemble pieces, the latter of which gave the artists the chance to present individual dance riffs.
Particularly notable among the compositions was Mutuba, choreographed and performed by Uganda-born artist, choreographer and teacher, Antonio Bukhar Ssebuuma, with music by Faizal Mostrixx Ddamba. The dance follows the imagined emotional journey of the mutuba tree as its bark is harvested for a fabric called ‘lubugo,’ or ‘barkcloth.’ The sheer integrity and conviction brought to the piece by Ssebuuma was outstanding, and his choreographic decision to contain the dance within the tight radius of the tree trunk was genius.
Perhaps the flaw in the programme was to show the 2022 film Your Limbs, choreography by Kemal Nance to a poem by the late Kariamu Welsh. In contrast to the rest of the evening, it was difficult to engage with without the direct connection to live performers. However, that is being picky, this was a real evening of celebration, one that lifted the spirits and gave much enjoyment.