Vredehoek resident Gita Galina, a dance artist specialising in improvisation, will be performing in Constellations: The Garden of Good and Evil at Spier in Stellenbosch for the first time next month.
Galina is multidisciplinary in her approach to dance and work. From ballet to busking she has performed at street festivals like Infecting the City, worked with Cape Town Opera, and collaboratively in artistic residencies like ONS Perspektief and Music Dance and performed in music videos such as I’m here for you by Caroline Macintosh and Not Enough by Cape Jay.
Currently she is exploring contact improvisation and its relationship to the dynamics in oneself and in partnership.
Constellations is a series of intimate encounters that connects performers, spectators and total strangers in a way that explores the creative sphere in unique and intriguing ways.
Director Brett Bailey has given each of the performers a whimsical, somewhat twisted character to interpret: a singer who lives in a bush in the belief that she’s an insect; a woman who reads stories to the ashes of the husband she murdered; a sensitive poet who lost his marbles in the mall.
Performers this year include singer and musician Gary Thomas, indigenous instrumentalist Sky Dlala, singer Laurie Levine, improviser and writer Megan Choritz, physical theatre performer Siphenathi Mayekiso, Belgian storyteller Gaetan Schmid, and interdisciplinary performance artist Mthuthuzeli Zimba.
Small groups will follow their Guides along riverside trails at nightfall and will visit six sites lit by campfires and lanterns. At each stop they will witness solo performances drawn from a diverse group of artists. Each encounter lasts approximately 15 minutes, combining to deliver a surreal series of unforgettable experiences brought to life through beautiful music, song and haunting tales.
Constellations: The Garden of Good and Evil runs on Friday and Saturday nights in the Spier wilderness from Friday November 3 to Saturday November 18, at 7.30pm.
Tickets for the two-hour event cost from R250 per person. Tickets at R375 per person include a cheese and charcuterie platter for two and all ticket purchases include a glass of Spier wine on arrival. Booking is through Webtickets. Attendees should meet at The Riverhouse by 6.30pm. The ground is uneven so suitable walking shoes are recommended. No under 16’s allowed.
Visit www.spier.co.za/events/constellations-at-spier for more information.
