Vuyani Dance Theatre, CION: Requiem of Ravel's Bolero - Friday, January 31 at 8:00 PM

Drawing inspiration from the character Toloki in South African author Zakes Mda’s novel Cion, and music from French composer Maurice Ravel’s Boléro, Cion is a universal story that reveals our ability to band together to share the burden of grief.

Cion examines the dark history of Maqoma’s native country by following the character of Toloki, a professional mourner at township funerals during South Africa's transition to democracy. Toloki uncovers the story of runaway slaves who were the ancestors of a poverty-stricken family. Set in a graveyard with the persistent cries of people in mourning and the a cappella music of Isicathamiya singers in the background, the performance vividly elicits emotions associated with the loss of life.

Ultimately, Maqoma has created a powerful requiem that seeks to stand against the darkness of death and bring audiences hope for humanity. He explains, "The world has changed from what we imagined it to be; we are all victims clouded by fear. This work stands against that dark cloud and brings us light and hope that humanity still exists, even in our darkest times.”

Based in Johannesburg, VDT was founded by Maqoma in 1999 and has become one of Africa’s most successful cutting edge performance groups. VDT’s mission is to produce multidisciplinary projects that question and challenge social values while exploring history, using them as launching pads for research and development.