“We are the first act ever from the hip-hop urban scene to provide the counter performance, which is really very special,” Lloyd told ANP. The state visit to South Africa is from October 18 to 20.
During this so-called counter performance, a cultural performance by the royal couple as a thank you for their hospitality, the group shows the performance Unbreakable. It will premiere in the Netherlands on October 10.
The theme is ‘no matter what happens to you in life, no matter how many times you fall, you will always have to get back up’, is how Lloyd describes the message of the show. This is made up of the South African dance pantsula, visual images, the bone breaking dance and dynamic choreography.
The return is a tradition during the state visit. Usually it concerns classical music or dance. For example, the royal couple has previously brought the Amsterdam Sinfonietta string orchestra (Belgium), harpist Lavinia Meijer (South Korea), the Nederlands Dans Theater (Greece) and Musica Amphion (Japan) with them.
Lloyd: “I think it’s special that it is now a different form of art. And it also fits in with the times that something like this is changing. We are getting a different view of art and what it is, a new movement is emerging.”
Soweto is a township near Johannesburg and played a major role in the struggle against Apartheid. At that time, black people were expelled from the ‘white areas’, to Soweto. Marengo is happy that the dancers from this township now get a big stage.
“They are dancers who do not always get the right appreciation. They do not always have a stage, and now they suddenly play for the Dutch royal couple and the South African president. They were enthusiastic when they heard it.”
Lloyd is not sure how exactly the royal couple ended up with the group, but he does have a suspicion. “I got into a conversation with Queen Máxima during the highlights lunch,” says the choreographer, who was invited because of winning the Golden Swan dance prize.
“She asked if I wanted to invite her, because she was very curious. And a few months later we got a call: I didn’t hesitate for a moment.”
2023-10-16 06:34:44
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