Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - The Market Theatre announced this week that Zakes Mda’s Cion, a follow-up to his famous Ways of Dying, will serve as the inspiration for a new piece by dancer and choreographer Gregory Maqoma, who has just been awarded France’s highest cultural honour – the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Arts and Literature).
Maqoma’s interpretation of Cion, which was originally published in 2007, will bring Mda’s professional mourner, Toloki, to life a decade after the novel achieved global fame.
Maqoma will perform a solo and will be accompanied by eight dancers from the Vuyani Dance Theatre – the contemporary dance company he founded. He is also the artistic director of the company.
“Death is a universal rite of passage, and the universe of greed, power and religion has led us to be professional mourners who transform the horror of death and the pain of mourning into a narrative without feeling for life,” Maqoma said in the announcement.
It looks like it will be another passionate, moving performance.
Cion premiers at The Market’s John Kani Theatre on 25 May and runs until 4 June. Tickets are R70 to R130 at webtickets.co.za.
