The Subtle Alchemy of Dreams

Musa Hlatshwayo’s "Portals and petals: the subtle alchemy of my grandmother’s dreams"

Jazzart Dance Theatre was thrilled to announce an upcoming season featuring the profound and moving work of multi-award-winning choreographer and director, Musa Hlatshwayo. Audiences were invited to step through a portal of memory, spirit, and rebirth with his latest production, ‘Portals and petals; the subtle alchemy of my grandmother’s dreams...’

The Work: A Collaboration Between Worlds

The production was more than a performance; it was a spiritual recollection and a daring collaboration between dreams and realities. Hlatshwayo masterfully facilitated the mating of the spiritual and the physical, creating a contemporary space for inherited visions.

The synopsis invited the audience into a deeply introspective journey:

‘Portals and petals’ was a look at the complex manifestation of who we continue to become. It served as a rite of passage; an invitation that presented an opportunity for introspection. It was both memory and wonder; an ode to our forebears as influenced by shared (and personal) stories of the voices that heal our dreams, hands that mould our being and the shoulders we continue standing on; firmly, as we experienced the rebirthing into the seers we were created to become.

This potent piece promised to honour the lineage and legacy of our ancestors, providing a deeply moving exploration of transformation and inherited wisdom.

The Artist: Musa Hlatshwayo

Driving this exceptional creation was Musa Hlatshwayo, a powerhouse in the South African and international dance landscape. As the creative and artistic director of his own Mhayise Productions, Hlatshwayo’s work was dedicated to exploring the complexities of African (black) bodies and identities. He was a celebrated voice who seamlessly fused contemporary African storytelling with powerful dance activism through politically conscious performative installations.

With over two decades of experience, his impact and innovation earned him significant recognition:

• He was the recipient of the prestigious Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance (2018).

• He was honoured with the ‘The Eric Shabala Dance Champion Award’ by the CCA and Jomba for his dedicated contribution to the development of dance in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

• He earned KZN Dancelink’s Choreographer of the Year award for three consecutive years.

Hlatshwayo's distinct creative approach, which fused Afrocentric (conventional and non-conventional) methods to contemporary expression, was so impactful that it was studied in various arts education institutions where he continued to feature as a guest lecturer, artist in residency, and creative researcher. His philosophy saw the voice and body as one, creating an holistic and undeniable presence on stage.

Experience the Alchemy

‘Portals and petals; the subtle alchemy of my grandmother’s dreams...’ was a must-see for anyone interested in contemporary dance that was socially conscious, spiritually resonant, and artistically brilliant.