Creating Platforms in Johannesburg, South Africa

UMICH students at the Sibikwa Arts Centre, Johannesburg

Platforms are the spaces that allow individuals and groups to share their stories. During a cultural exchange trip made possible through the partnership of University of Michigan and The Market Theatre, I witnessed how South Africans in Johannesburg are creating new platforms for storytelling and social engagement. During this trip, I learned that an artist’s platform can be large venues like The Market Theatre, on smaller stages like POPArt Theatre, or on the very streets of Soweto. Anyone can create or step onto a platform to share their stories with others. 

Historic Windybrow Theatre, Johannesburg

Art plays an important role in social engagement because artists can reclaim spaces that have been taken or stolen, historically or even currently, through colonialism or gentrification. Artists can also create spaces that welcome natives, foreigners, immigrants, and visitors all to imagine a new community and connect with one another through a shared experience- a performance. 

Dancers from Tribhangi Dance Theatre Company

Young South Africans artists I met have found ways to create new platforms to express their experiences through theatre and dance performance. For instance, I witnessed a play created by alumni from the Market Theatre that brought attention to the concern of AIDS. With witty humor, perfectly curated music, and a whole lot of drama, the one-hour show was performed by two actresses who also wrote the script. They told personal stories about various sexual experiences and the impact of AIDS in their communities. They ended the play reading, in the manner of a public service announcement, statistics on the AIDS epidemic and even offered condoms to audience members after the performance. Storytelling through movement can be just as powerful. Dancers from the Tribhangi Dance Theatre Company combine a classical Indian dance called Bharatha Natyam with African, Contemporary, and Afro-fusion to tell stories of loss and triumph. 

Learning Panstula, a South African street dance, from students at Sibikwa Arts Centre

Through these intentional exchanges and shared experiences with South African artists, I am inspired to explore movement that combines the complexities of my personal identity and cultural experiences as a Taiwanese American hip hop and street dancer. Also, I hope to research methods to create new platforms for hip hop and street dancers to share their stories as well.