PRESS RELEASE 12 March 2003

ASTONISHINGLY DIFFERENT DA MOTUS! TO APPEAR AT CAPE FESTIVALS

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One of the most innovative and memorable dance performances on the European circuit, Fribourg (Switzerland) based Da Motus! is to appear at the two Cape festivals this month.

Da (give, offer) Motus (movement) have performed in castles, city squares, theatres, public places and important arts and culture festivals in over 100 cities in 23 countries across Europe, Japan and the Americas.

Now, for the first time performing on African soil, Da Motus! will re-enact their startling ‘urbanthropus’ choreography.

Urbanthropus is a creature both ancestral and futuristic; androgynous, but with a certain erotic power and mystique, appearing discreetly as in a dream, provoking with its innocence and, troubled by the strangeness of the daily goings-on of the audience, disappears to who knows where.

Each performance is a synthesis of a precisely choreographed structure and improvisation based on the unique peculiarities of the environment, the audience and unforeseen events. No two performances are ever the same.

Da Motus! has been brought to the festivals by Pro Helvetia, the Arts Council of Switzerland, as part of an ongoing cultural programme designed to promote exchange between Switzerland and South Africa in all spectrums of art and culture.

“This kind of interpretive performance is wonderfully exciting and certainly mind expanding,” says Pro Helvetia’s Cape Town office spokesperson Mirjam Asmal. “We’re wholly supportive of exposing local audiences to such a highly innovative alternate dance form. Like ripples in a pond, this will no doubt spark all sorts of creative thought in our local performing art establishment.

Da Motus! will give five performances throughout Cape Town, free of charge between the 20 and 24 March and will also feature at the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunste fees from 29 to 31 March, for three performances.

For more information, please contact the Pro Helvetia office at 021 425 4701 or visit www.pro-helvetia.ch/capetown

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ASTONISHINGLY DIFFERENT DA MOTUS! TO APPEAR AT CAPE FESTIVAL

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Issued by Rosemary Hare, Mitchell, Wicomb Public Relations cc

P O Box 12521

MILL STREET

8010

On behalf of Pro Helvetia Liaison Office

PO Box 563

Cape Town

8000

For further information, please contact Lesley-Ann Erasmus at Rosemary Hare, Mitchell, Wicomb Public Relations on (021) 465-1166 or 082 579 3793

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