Dance Umbrella 2009: 6 October - 7 November

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African Crossroads

A new generation of creators has emerged in Africa's urban centres and African Crossroads, a first for London and the UK, is your opportunity to see
a range of vibrant choreography from across this enormously diverse continent.

African Crossroads showcases three full-evening works:
Ebhofolo, a powerful work by South Africa’s Vincent Mantsoe, already well known to festival audiences;
Correspondances, a bold and engaging female duet from Nelisiwe Xaba (South Africa) and Kettly Noël (Mali); and
Shift...centre, Opiyo Okach’s promenade performance in which six Kenyan dancers will be joined by their UK counterparts.

African Currents, a programme feature, is a diverse and lively mixed programme of new solos and duets from across the African continent, with preludes by East London Dance Associate artists.

Two Brief Encounters complete the programme:
J'Accuse, Kaolack's (Senegal) provocative solo, and
DIPLOMACY 2, a Dance Umbrella commission from Andréya Ouamba (Senegal) and the UK’s Matthias Sperling.

African Crossroads is presented across four venues from Southbank Centre and Stratford Circus to the Royal Opera House and The Place, and is sure to challenge assumptions about dance from Africa. With communications opening up around the world, African artists are globally connected and share concerns across continents and cultures. With strong individual visions and complex new physicalities, this is exciting new dance that we want to share with you.

See associated events - talks and classes

Supported by:

The Edwin Fox Foundation The Linbury Trust Tamaas and many individual donors