exit exist full pk f.. - MAPP International Productions

Exit/ExistGREGORY MAQOMA/VUYANI DANCE THEATRE

Exit/ExistU.S. Tourdates includeOct 17-Oct 20Atlas PerformingArts Center(Washington, DC)Oct 24-Oct 27Seattle TheatreGroup/On The Boards(Seattle, WA)Nov 1-Nov 2651Arts(Brooklyn, NY)Nov 7-Nov 9REDCAT(Los Angeles, CA)Produced byMAPP InternationalProductions“ This is thekind of performancethat isessential inhelping todevelop globalunderstaning.With his body,Maqoma is ableto take us tothese placesthat we couldnever visit onour own. ”GREGORYMAQOMA/VUYANIDANCETHEATREIn Exit/Exist, South African choreographer Gregory Maqoma reinvigoratestradition to understand the complexities of our contemporary world.As inspiration for this piece, Maqoma looks to his ancestral past: ChiefMaqoma, a 19th century warrior who fought to maintain Xhosa culturaltraditions of the Eastern Cape in the face of colonial dispossession. Maqomaembodies this forgotten history in a transformational and poignant soloperformance that fuses storytelling with his own unparalleled contemporarydance vocabulary and spirited live music. Through his signature integrationof traditional and contemporary dance, Maqoma invites audiences to reflecton who we are, where we come from, and how all of these facets, past andpresent, inform our personal and collective identities today.Maqoma is joined on stage by four exceptional singers (South Africanensemble Complete, whose performance credentials include touring withHugh Masekela) and world-fusion guitarist Giuliano Modarelli, performinga lush score by Simphiwe Dana, the acclaimed singer and composer fromMaqoma’s native province of the Eastern Cape. As supporting characters inthe narrative, the entire cast is interwoven into Maqoma’s vibrantly kineticworld, creating rich visual scenes which punctuate his abstract explorationof race and political power, cultural tradition and personal legacy.Run time: approximately 60 minutes, no intermissionFor more information, Michelle Coe, Director of Booking646.602.9390, michelle@mappinternational.org- Seattle Examiner

GREGORYVUYANIMAQOMAGregory Vuyani Maqoma, internationally renowned dancer, choreographer, director, and scriptwriter, startedhis dance training in 1990 at Moving into Dance. While studying under the direction of Anne Teresa DeKeersmaeker at Performing Arts Research and Training School (PARTS) in Belgium in 1999, Maqomafounded Vuyani Dance Theatre (VDT). Vuyani Dance Theatre is marked by a fusion of Africancontemporary urban styles, music and culture with those produced by contemporary European counterparts.VDT creates work that questions and challenges social values while, simultaneously, exploiting history asa launch pad for (material) research and development. The Vuyani Dance Theatre approach embraces - ina dynamic and theatrical way - the many tastes, motivations, and cultures that shape the uniqueness of theSouth African society.Maqoma’s work has garnered several awards including 1994 FNB Vita Pick of the Fringe Award; 1995 FNBVita Pick of the Stepping Stones Award; 1998 FNB Vita Young Choreographers Grant; 1999 and 2000 FNBVita Choreographer of the Year; 2001 FNB Vita Best Choreography Award; and 2002 Standard Bank YoungArtist of the Year for Dance. In 2002, he was nominated for the prestigious DaimlerChrysler Award, and in2004 was among the finalists for the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative. In 2006 and 2007 Maqomawon the Gauteng MEC Award for his work Beautiful US and Beautiful Me respectively. Hecollaborated with the British based Choreographer Akram Khan with the London Symphonietta to the musicof Steve Reich. He also created Neon Flight for South African Ballet Theatre, which premiered in Moscowin 2006.Maqoma’s work has been seen in Africa, Europe, USA and South America. He was Associate ArtisticDirector for FNB Dance Umbrella Festival 2010 and The Artistic Director of the Afro-Vibes Festival basedin Holland. In 2009, Maqoma was selected as the head choreographer for the Fourth World Summit of Arts& Culture, held in South Africa, and presented 3 Colours with Brett Bailey. He also acted as headchoreographer for the FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Concert held in Johannesburg, Soweto, his birth place, inJune 2010. His ongoing collaboration with theatre director James Ngcobo began in 2008 with The Lion andthe Jewel; The Hill by Zakes Mda; Crazy for Jazz; and Thirst. This collaboration grew with the adaptation ofMaster Harold and the Boys produced by Theatre on the Square and Sunjata produced by the MarketTheatre in 2011. In 2010 he was choreographer for a Hugh Masekela project Songs of Migration alsoproduced by the Market Theatre. Maqoma is currently touring Southern Bound Comfort a double billchoreographed by Maqoma and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. In addition to his own choreography, Maqoma hastaught and created repertoire for Moving into Dance, Jazzart Company, South African Ballet Theatre, andCape Performing Arts, among others.

James Ngcobo(Director)James Ngcobo is stage, television and film actor best known for his roles as editor Joe Dlamini on the SouthAfrican drama series Hard Copy (2005), and as Mojo Khumalo on the South African sitcom Stokvel, from 2003-2008 and 2010. Ngcobo has appeared at London’s Young Vic in The Revolution, toured the United States in TheHorn of Sorrow, toured Britain in The Cherry Orchard, and performed in Sizwe Banzi is Dead at Britain’sFestival Hall. He trained with Kwa-Zulu Natal’s Loft Theatre Company appearing in such productions as LaRonde, Mujaji, Horn of Sorrow and Jesus Christ Superstar. As a director he has become known for adaptations:Es’kia Mphahlele’s The Suitcase; Fred Khumalo’s autobiography, Touch My Blood; Wole Soyinka’s The Lionand the Jewel; and Thirst, which saw Pelen Baldini’s The Water Carriers transposed into an African setting. In2007, Ngcobo won Best Director for The Suitcase at the Naledi Theatre Awards. In 2011, he turned his attentionto the myth of the warrior king, Sunjata, who, legend has it, founded the Malian empire in the 13th century —the land of Timbuktu, the spiritual and intellectual capital of Africa.Simphiwe Dana(Songwriter)EXIT/EXIST COLLABORATORS& PERFORMERSSimphiwe Dana is one of South Africa’s most soulful singers, renowned around the world and adored for herimpressive vocal prowess. As an award-winning singer whose albums have ascended to the top ofinternational charts, and her music captures the hearts of those listening to it. Her third album, Kulture Noir(2010), has received two METRO FM Music Awards 2010 for Best Female and Best Contemporary JazzAlbum, and also claimed the No. 1 spot on the German World Music Charts and the number 3 spot on theEuropean Music Charts.Giuliano Modarelli(Compser/Musician)Originally from Italy, Giuliano Modarelli is stylistically unique guitarist. During his musical training heexplored many different genres of music from Western Classical to Trip Hop, Klezmer to Heavy Rock. Afterstudying Jazz at University, he went on study under UK renowned sitarist Dharambir Singh and Indianclassical maestro Buddhadev Dasgupta. His style is a subtle blend of World Folk, Arabic, Flamenco, Latin andEastern European. His breadth of knowledge and soulful improvisation have led to awards and scholarshipsfrom the Arts Council England, SAA-UK, Sampad, Milapfest and others, enabling him to work with and learnfrom some of the world’s most respected Indian Classical musicians such as L. Subramanian, J. Bose and PtAjoy Chakraborty. In addition to being a solo artist, Giuliano is also a core member of UK based band Samay,which combines traditional forms with a range of contemporary influences to reinvent the sound of IndianClassical Music, blending Jazz, Flamenco, Samba, Funk and Chill Out to create both powerful and dynamicarrangements. As part of the international project Sunev featuring Grammy Award winning tabla star BikramGhosh (Rhythm Scape), Giuliano collaborated with Bikram to write and perform for the soundtrack of the Mira

Nair film, Little Zizou (2008). He is also featured on the soundtrack of the latest Sangeeta Datta Film Life GoesOn. Giuliano writes for theatre and dance, touring nationally and internationally with companies such as: BalbirSingh Dance Company, Motion Manual, Diversity Dance, Red Ladder Theatre and Phoenix Dance Theatre. Hehas also developed various music projects in the UK (such as Klezmer Trip with Bill Laurence, My Journeywith Manvir Singh, Nshwa, Raga Nova) and performs regularly in prestigious venues throughout the country(Queen Elizabeth Hall, The Barbican, The Purcell Room, Bridgewater Hall, CBSO, BBC Venue/Radio) as wellas at Darbar Festival, Music Port, Bestival, Womex, and Jazz and World Music festivals throughout the UK andabroad. Giuliano regularly works and trains in India where he tours with many outstanding artists such asBickram Ghosh, Paban Das Baul, Pete Lockett, Purbayann Chatterjee, Sandip Chatterjee. These collaborationshave allowed him to explore many different styles of South-Asian music including Bengali Folk, RajastanyFolk, Gazals, Thumri, Kayal, deepening his awareness of world music and continuing his journey intoinnovative and eclectic excellence.Complete(Musicians/Singers)Formed by brothers Happy Motha and Bongikosi Zulu in 2001 and later joined by Linda Thobela and BubeleMgele, Complete is a vocal indulgence of harmonic voices. The quartet found its wings in the Assembly of GodChurch in Boksburg, Vosloorus, where they have built a fan base with regular performances. They were thenrecruited by Benjamin Dube to be part of the critically-acclaimed Praise Explosion 2004 and went on to performat the T.D Jakes Mega Fest concert in Johannesburg, South Africa. Complete has a vision to touch and changethe hearts of music lover’s worldwide through singing gospel, RnB, and Scathamiya, a popular South Africangenre. Complete’s music is spiritual, mature and extravagant and crosses cultural, racial and class barriers. Uponwinning three awards in the Ekurhuleni local gospel competition (2003-2005) they were awarded anopportunity to perform at the 2004 KORA All Africa Music Awards. They have also worked with the legendaryHugh Masekela on 100 years of South African music, and on Songs of Migration, featuring Sibongile Khumalo.The group recently toured Germany and has worked with the legendary pianist Themba Mkhize and SWR bigband. In South Africa, Complete was featured on Hip-Hop group Deep Level’s song called Thula mama andrecorded a hit song—I’m complete—on house group Revolution’s album tribal journey. They are currentlyworking on a new album.

“Exit/Exist...reaches new levels of integrated, polished and evocativetheatre dance” - ArtsLink South AfricaPRESS & TOURHISTORY“Maqoma is a truly global dancer thinker. He brings to his work themultiple influences from his early street dance and traditional Africandance experiences, a highly stylized sense of theatrical space, and thetheatrical savvy of someone who has seen a lot and absorbed more.”- Danceviewtimes“Maqoma has proved to transcend generations when it comes tocaptivating audiences.” - City Press“Through layering these distinct and diverse styles with his ownunique lightness and humor, Beautiful Me becomes a living selfportrait and a provocative exploration of kinetic African identity.”- Lake Stevens Journal, Washington“Besides being culturally meaningful and lovely, this dance piece issimply a stunning work of athleticism and talent. Maqoma moveseffortlessly with the grace associated with modern dance, usingabstract styles from contemporary artists. Even if it were devoid ofmeaning, this piece is exciting and interesting to watch. But whatmakes it truly special is that you leave the performance feeling notonly impressed and jazzed over this amazing dancer, but touched bywhat you have just witnessed.” - Seattle Theatre Examiner“From within a whirlwind of cultural resources and history, Maqomaand his musicians create an intimate and heartfelt performance thateducates and all but embraces its audience.” - CultureSpotLAWhat distinguishes Maqoma... is his intelligently provocativeexploration of kinetic African identity where the rural impinges onthe urban, where the hallowed intersects with the popular.- The Starr, JohannesburgDebut U.S. TourOct – Nov, 2009Beautiful MeProduced byMAPP InternationalBates CollegeLewiston, MEREDCATLos Angeles, CAVSA/North Fourth ArtCenterAlbuquerque, NMYerba Buena Center forthe ArtsSan Francisco, CASeattle Theatre Group/ACT TheaterSeattle, WAMiami Dade CollegeMiami, FL

The North American tour of Exit/Exist is a produced byMAPP International Productions in partnership withThe Africa Contemporary Arts ConsortiumExit/Exist is co-produced by Vuyani Dance Theatre, Dance Umbrella (Johannesburg, South Africa), Theatre de la Ville(Paris, France) and Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg KVS/Royal Flemish Theatre (Brussels, Belgium).About MAPP InternationalMAPP International Productions is a nonprofit producing and touring organization dedicated to engagingaudiences through contemporary performing arts projects and artistic experiences that offer freshinterpretations of social issues and forge connections between the artist and the community. Established in1994 by Ann Rosenthal, and co-directed with Cathy Zimmerman since 1998, MAPP International is recognizedfor producing nontraditional artists who tackle complex subject matter, experiment with form and push thecultural conversation forward in society. Since its founding MAPP International has produced 33 productionsinvolving more than 300 artists in 42 U.S. states and 16 countries. MAPP International has also introduced theU.S. public to artists from 25 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia and the Caribbean. Current programsinclude New Works, Artist-Public Dialogues, MAPP on Tour, The America Project and The AfricaContemporary Arts Consortium. The common goal of these programs is to promote artistic and communityengagement, and the exchange of ideas on a local, national and international stage.Board of DirectorsLisa Yancey, ChairSenior Arts Consultant, Yancey Arts ConsultantDavid Gibson, Co-chairPrincipal, TWO TWELVE, Inc.Candace Jackson, SecretaryPrincipal, CJAM ConsultingPaul Cillo, TreasurerPresident & Executive Director, Public Assets InstituteOlivia GeorgiaExecutive Director, Mary Miss StudioMartin BournhonesqueOwner, Martin’s FarmAnn RosenthalStaffAnn RosenthalExecutive Director & ProducerCathy ZimmermanCo-Director & ProducerJoyce LawlerDirector of DevelopmentMichelle CoeBooking ManagerRasu JilaniDirector of Community ProgramsJulia Gutierrez-RiveraAdministrative ManagerJonathan KittDevelopment Assistant

"Maqoma is a truly global dancerthinker. He brings to his workthe multiple influences from hisearly street dance andtraditional African danceexperiences, a highly stylizedsense of theatrical space, andthe theatrical savvy of someonewho has seen a lot and absorbedmore.”- Danceviewtimes