Zürcher Theater Spektakel

«I am an African dancer, I have plenty of exotic stories to sell. Which one would you like to hear tonight?» This is how Gregory Maqoma opens his solo «Beautiful Me» and ironically undermines the stereotype expectations of the Western as well as the traditional African world of dance. Maqoma’s style is eclectic but his choreography convinces, due to his tremendously strong identity as a dancer. As opposed to his compatriot Boyzie Cekwana, he rarely includes performance elements but relies entirely on the expressive power of movement, deliberately searching out the input of other choreographers. For «Beautiful Me» he has looked to Akram Khan, Faustin Linyekula and Vincent Mantsoe. Accompanied by ingenious live music, Gregory Maqona attaches this unique choreographic material to a brilliant solo about his own «exotic» story of survival. (esc)