Rhythmic Nation

Live dance performance can be grueling, as dull as a spoon. But, at its best, it can also be explosive and propulsive, an in-the-face assault on the senses that leaves audiences so drained they feel like they did the steppin' themselves. Vincent Mantsoe's work definitely falls under the latter description...

By Greg Baker

January 25, 2007

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "19274298",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17482312",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482310",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482313",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Live dance performance can be grueling, as dull as a spoon. But, at its best, it can also be explosive and propulsive, an in-the-face assault on the senses that leaves audiences so drained they feel like they did the steppin' themselves. Vincent Mantsoe's work definitely falls under the latter description. The South African choreographer's new project, Men-Jaro, features music by Anthony Caplan's African Music Workshop Ensemble (six members will play indigenous instruments onstage, with an emphasis on percussion) and a troupe of five dancers.

As a child in Soweto, Mantsoe listened to his mother begin each day with a traditional drum greeting to the "ancestors." He also joined youth clubs that danced in the streets in imitation of moves from music videos. This mix of ancient tradition and modern influences informs Mantsoe's every move and has allowed him to create his own style, Afro-fusion, which blends classic African dance with modern, ballet, and Asian approaches. It adds up to one powerful evening of fantastic light-tripping.
Jan. 27-28, 8 p.m.

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Miami New Times has been defined as the free, independent voice of Miami — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.