Men-Jaro

One of South Africa’s leading choreographers, Vincent Mantsoe teams up with South African composer and ethnomusicologist, Anthony Caplan, for Men-Jaro. Township slang for “friendship,” Men-Jaro embodies the intrinsic relationship that exists between African contemporary dance and music, as well as that of diverse dance traditions and cultures.

Drawing on the unique heritage of each performer (the ensemble of dancers hail from France, Japan, the U.S. and South Africa) Mantsoe’s choreography plays with the intricate rhythms of The African Music Workshop Ensemble (South Africa’s first professional traditional orchestra) who accompany the dancers onstage with a range of indigenous African instruments including: mbira (thumb piano), umrhubhe (mouth bow), uhadi (gourd bow), botsorwane (string instrument), drums, shakers and clappers, and the vocals of Sasa Magwaza. Rooted in South African traditions and guided by Mantsoe’s inclusive vision, the dancers and musicians seek to investigate and strengthen the friendship between contemporary dance and traditional music.

Men-Jaro is presented as part of the 651 ARTS’ annual series, Black Dance: Tradition and Transformation (BDTT). BDTT contributes to the development of Black dance and to the understanding of its lineage from traditional African movement to its most contemporary expression.