Unlikely Collaboration Brings an Incredible Evening of African Contemporary and Classical Music and Dance to Sheffield

Birmingham based Keneish Dance and Sheffield Oratorio Chorus join forces to perform David Fanshawe’s iconic African Sanctus which Sheffield Oratorio Chorus performed 16 years ago to a sell-out audience. This upcoming performance will be dedicated to the memory of Simon Banda and Mandla Sibanda, who were lead dancers from Zimbabwe in the previous performance.

An unlikely collaboration that brings the athleticism, power and emotions of Keneish dancers together with a 100-strong choir from Sheffield Oratorio Chorus and a number of school pupils from Firth Park Academy. This promises to be an extravagant event that celebrates diversity, from the performers taking part to the unique blend of African, classical and contemporary music and dance, pushing the boundaries of each tradition.

The first half will be the intimate and invigorating High I’m… exploring taboo subjects of addiction and recovery, a direct juxtaposition to the second half, which features the iconic, religious, and spiritual music of African Sanctus with recorded tribal sounds from Egypt, Sudan, Uganda, and Kenya.

Grant added, “Exploring a taboo subject with religious music is a risk, and it’s one that I grappled with at first. But I believe it helps to capture the light and dark of human nature and how we respond to it. Addiction, from social media to substance or other temptations, is a common battle in the modern world that is worth raising awareness for.”

The choreography is commissioned by Arts Council England and supported by Yorkshire Dance and MAC Birmingham.

African Sanctus and High I’m… will showcase at The Octagon Centre, Sheffield, on 7 July 2018, with tickets starting from £15 for adults, £12 for concessions, and just £5 for students and children under 16.

To find out more visit keneishdance.com/ and oratorio.org.uk/.

Tickets for African Sanctus and High I’m… can be purchased on the door, from the Blue Moon Café next to Sheffield Cathedral, and at WeGotTickets.