fbpx Festival of South African Dance featuring The Gumboots and Real Actions Pantsula Dance Company | Krannert Center for the Performing Arts | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

You are here

Festival of South African Dance featuring The Gumboots and Real Actions Pantsula Dance Company

South Africa is home to a rich mix of cultural traditions that reflect the vibrant diversity, complex history, and inventive creativity of its nearly 56 million citizens. Two of its national dance forms come together in this captivating program. The Gumboots, clad in wellies and led by acclaimed producer Thapelo Motloung, tell the story of migrant men in Stimela the Musical—a stirring and theatrical presentation using isicathulo (gumboot) dance, which began as a form of resistance by black miners. Pantsula dance style was born of street culture in South Africa’s black townships, influenced by Sotho dances and American jazz and hip-hop, and inspired by everyday events. Real Actions Pantsula, founded in 1992 by Sello Modiga in Orange Farm Township near Johannesburg, features a diverse young troupe dedicated to education and social justice alongside their phenomenal skills as performers.

Recommended for ages 10 and up.

This performance will run approximately two hours and 15 minutes, and includes a 20-minute intermission.

Event Details

Foellinger Great Hall
We Nov 01, 2017 - 7:00pm
Pick Five+: 33 / SC 28 / STU 15 / UI & YTH 10 Single: 35 / SC 30 / STU 15 / UI & YTH 10