Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

OYO Dance Troupe in Botswana

Home Lifestyle OYO Dance Troupe in Botswana

Staff Reporter

The OYO dance troupe has been selected to perform a triple bill at the Maitisong festival festival.
The festival is an annual event that started in 1987 and has become the biggest arts festival in Gaborone, Botswana with international and local artists bringing theatre, dance, poetry and comedy to fee-paying audiences in several festival venues around Gaborone. Additionally it brings non-stop music shows to thousands of revelers in under-privileged areas free of charge. This year the festival runs April 13 to 22. OYO will perform Maria, the Phantom of Namibia and Thiasus in Gaborone on Friday 20 April and again Saturday 21 April.

“It is a great honour for the dance troupe’, says Phillip Talavera, director and choreographer. “We use dance to create social awareness. We are well known for the social work we do. But we also work hard as dancers and performers. It is important for the troupe to feature during international events, to showcase our talent’. The OYO dance troupe is the first, and currently only, dance troupe in Namibia employing dancers as full time performers.”
Maria follows the story of a young school girl who is forced to leave school to get married. According to the United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF), over 5400 children are married in Namibia. While legislation strictly regulates marriage for minors, traditions still prevail in places. But what really happens to those girls? Do they become voiceless mothers? Sections in Maria are inspired by a workshop the troupe had with renown dancer from Botswana, Duncan Sebopelo.

The phantom of Namibia follows the story of two orphans who become street kids. Exploring feelings of loss, loneliness, rejection, hope, disappointment, it follows their journey from the day of the funerals. The piece was developed in collaboration with dancers from Canada, Sweden, the Netherlands and Singapore.

Thiasus is a modern tale. The piece is inspired by the mythical figure of Dionysus and his followers, traveling in processions called Thiasus and recruiting newcomers to join in their celebrations. Too many young Namibians get pressurised to join in parties, and too often they regret their actions, a little too late. The piece was developed in collaboration with dancers from Sweden, the USA, the Netherlands, the UK and Germany.

The OYO dance troupe developed a unique repertoire using physical theatre. It appeals to the heart rather than the intellect. It performed to over 150,000 in 2017 alone. Internationally, it produced itself in Botswana (Maitisong festival 2016), the UK (on invitation by the Commonwealth Youth Dance Festival, with performances in Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburg and London, 2014 and on invitation by Sadler’s wells, London, 2009), South Africa (2009, 2011) and Germany (2009).