Pantsula is a South African subculture that emerged during Apartheid in the townships of Johannesburg. It is still characterized by its own codes in fashion and language, its philosophy of life, social commentary, musical style and last but not least the powerful and energetic dance, known for its extremely high-speed virtuosic footwork. In The Ecstatic, this historically significant dance style meets the Praise Break from the context of the African-American Pentecostal church: an ecstatic dance tradition, a mode of praise, an interruption of the prayer in Christian Pentecostal service, where fast gospel music, shouts and the dancing body coalesce to truly cathartic moments.

From the fusion of these two worlds and aesthetics, Jeremy Nedd and the six dancers of Impilo Mapantsula develop a precise, energetic study of movement about states of ecstasy. They find a new space for community in the transcendental moment of “break”.

JEREMY NEDD is a Brooklyn (New York) born choreographer and performer who has been living in Basel for some time. Nedd has had engagements at the Semperoper in Dresden (2010-2012) and Ballett Basel (2012-2016). As a guest performer he is associated with Schauspielhaus Zürich, where he has worked with Trajal Harrell, amongst others. Nedd has realised and presented his previous productions at Kaserne Basel, ROXY Birsfelden, Tanzhaus Zürich, Arsenic (Lausanne), Palais de Tokyo (Paris) and Münchner Kammerspiele.
jeremynedd.com

IMPILO MAPANTSULA is a global network of high-level professional dance artists who specialize in Pantsula, a South African urban dance form. They are a professional organization that promotes the development of Pantsula dance and culture, creates formal standards, and acts as an industry representative. The organization aims to document and protect the living legacy of Pantsula and support dancers in professionalizing and further developing their art. Impilo Mapantsula creates learning opportunities and supports artistic creation and self-expression through educational, artistic and professional programs, with an emphasis on job creation, international collaborations and exchange programs.

[Source: play bill]

TFB Nr. 1767