"VAGONI DANCE COMPANY"

by Vivienne Hamblin

They are able, expert. A group of 4 very energetic young men, Samuel Gohwa, Timothy Masawi, Normore Kamupando and Litu Nota performed a short programme of 4 dances at Alliannce Francaise on Wed 13th Dec 2000.

The winning piece, that knocked the breath out of us, was their gumboot dance, polished, rhythmically enthralling, accompanied by a varied group of songs. I loved the singing and the off axis, risky use of the body. When they began singing the slower 'Shosholoza' in the middle, I wished that they'd also link movement ideas connecting the train, the migration and the chongololo bus, to the gumboot rhythm. A development of a contrasting slow driving movement centre of this gumboot dance could stomp it into the realm of the magical, with an unbelievable focus of energy.

The other three pieces on the programme were made and performed in conjunction with Jonas Sande (until recently a dancer with TUMBUKA). Generally they conveyed a sense of one versus four, a group, healthy, broke, energetic and frustrated, with anger at being dispossessed and of the powerless generation. Jit and hip-hop sections (inspired by visiting French groups) contrasted effectively with Jonas Sande's articulate virtuoso incisive style. The group made the effort to take on more breadth of movement, and this is the essence of the performance. Effective moments included, the long distance fight, the slow motion reactions, the 'brushing off' motif, used to brush off flies, people, life, and waving goodbye.

A venue like Alliance with limited space, limited sight lines except for the upper body, close up to the audience allows more use of mime and facial expression, all no/no's for the modern dance movement, but excellent tools for telling a more specific story. In comparison to the movement art groups brought here by Alliance over the last few years, we missed that intensity of developing and working ideas and a programme allowed by greater resources. As my neighbor in the theatre noted, if Jonas Sande is working with the group his variety of roles could be integrated into the context of a one whole performance, rather than separate pieces.

This is a performance well worth seeing. A group with great ambition might try the modern dance recipe of a virtuoso unit of dancers, submerging their individuality in three years of refining their dance to match Jonas.

But hold on a minute, isn't this the one and only Litu Nota from the 'Tamango Boys'? Who in Mufakose, ten years ago, could divert a hall full of aspiring TUMBUKA students, put them rolling on the floor with laughter, drama students abandoning their wooden AK props, while Litu Nota aged twelve improvised a routine with an old car lamp strapped to his head!
This was an excellent cast, who could use five individual voices, (not one unit) to make one disciplined performance. If Alliance can do a little for Vagoni, of what British Council did for Savanah Arts its well worth waiting for the next show.
By Vivienne Hamblin

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