Award-winning South African choreographer, Dado Masilo is returning to The Lowry with her latest work The Sacrifice.

Inspired by Igor Stravinsky’s monumental score and Pina Bausch’s seminal The Rite of Spring, Masilo combines European heritage with the uniquely rhythmic and expressive movements of Tswana, the traditional dance of Botswana.

Masilo’s The Sacrifice questions the evil that humans do to each other and explores the power of community to bring about change, through the movements of 11 dancers.

Masilo said: “I wanted to explore ritual, what sacrifice meant to the Tswana people then and what it means now. Narrative is very important to me. I wanted to create a story that is deeper than a chosen maiden dancing herself to death.”

Masilo said: “I wanted to explore ritual, what sacrifice meant to the Tswana people then and what it means now. Narrative is very important to me. I wanted to create a story that is deeper than a chosen maiden dancing herself to death.”

The all-South African cast perform to an original score composed by violinist Leroy Mapholo, pianist Nathi Shongwe and opera and gospel choir singer Ann Masina who plays a powerful goddess figure. Joined by percussionist Mpho Mothiba, the musicians play live on stage.

Masilo’s re-imagining of Giselle was a huge hit when it visited The Lowry in 2019.

Dada Masilo: The Sacrifice will be at The Lowry, Salford on 21st and 22nd March. For more information and tickets visit The Lowry website.

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