POP is a multidisciplinary dance piece interrogating mental health issues related to homophobia. By sharing their intimate experiences on stage, the choreographers Thamsanqa Majela and Matthieu Nieto developed a choreographic and poetic language to transcend violence through a therapeutic dance, both sensitive and flamboyant. Cultivating a dreamlike and hypnotic state, they navigate through the mental and physical imprints of traumas influenced by the popular culture that shaped their worlds.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Choreography, Performance, Texts: Thamsanqa Majela & Matthieu Nieto
Music: Chesney Palmer
Lighting Design/Video Mapping: Mandla Mtshali
Photographer: Muzeza Damas
Stylist: Vaazi
Production: Mouvements Migrateurs
Coproductions:
Dance Forum/New Dance Umbrella (Johannesburg, SA), National Arts Festival (Makhanda, SA), Vrystaat Arts Festival (Bloemfontein, SA); IFAS Institut Français South Africa (Johannesburg, SA); Les Bazis (Sainte Croix Volvestre, FR)
Photographed by: Muzeza Damas/Vaazi Stylist
With the support of:
Centre National de la Danse (Pantin, FR), Muda Africa (Dar Es Salaam, TZ), Dans6T (Tarbes, FR), L’Essieu du Batut (Le Batut, FR), Le Ring (Toulouse, FR)
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Matthieu Nieto is a choreographer, performer and educator based in Paris, France. He holds a Masters in Performing Arts (International Cultural and Artistic Projects) and a Bachelors in Dance obtained from University of Paris 8 (Saint-Denis). He trained in dance and choreography at internationally renowned schools: Donko Seko (Bamako, Mali) Rencontres Internationales de Danse Contemporaine (Paris, France); Coline (Istres, France); Ecole des Sables (Toubab-Dialaw, Senegal); Dance New Amsterdam, and Peridance (New York City, USA). His eclectic career has led him to explore diverse practices in contemporary dance, African dances, yoga, voguing or krumping – influencing his transcultural approach to dance through his projects with Mouvements Migrateurs. His first two solos, I am not my colour (2013) and I came here to talk (2018) address whiteness and identity and were presented in France, Hungary, Mali, Rwanda, South Africa, Tunisia and the United-States. In 2021, he choreographed Boy Band, a quintet exploring masculinity with young dancers from Amizero dance company in Rwanda. In 2022, he collaborate with Sanna Yrjenheikki to create Human/Forest with 14 dance students of Muda Africa in Tanzania.
South African born, Sylvester Thamsanqa Majela is a multidisciplinary performance artist who’s interest is in the LGBTQIA+ related issues, the space between Digital Art and Spiritual Art. A dancer, choreographer, actor and teacher, Majela is a graduate of the Performing Arts, Research and Training Studios (P.A.R.T.S), a contemporary school by world renowned choreographer and dancer, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker. Majela’s interest is interrogating and making commentary on socio-political & technological influence imposed on the human psyche in the contemporary era. Majela has collaborated with numerous companies and independent artists locally (South Africa) and internationally in Film, Exhibitions, Performance. He has been involved in various residencies in creating his
works through the Pro Helvetia in Johannesburg/Switzerland and the reative Practice Laboratory in Bloemfontein. Majela’s passion is in teaching, and he has devised a Movement Studies workshop which makes use of Release Technique and FloorWork.