Dancing through Covid, on the Digital Edge

Mlungisi Magcaba interviews Sabelo Cele

Mlungisi Magcaba: Tell me about yourself and your passion…

Sabelo Cele: I am Sabelo Cele. 27-years of age, I grew up in Ezakheni (Ladysmith). I hold an Honors Degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. I am passionate about the relationship between art, sexualities, and politics. I am a Black queer individual who enjoys reading, writing and dance. I am currently doing my Masters at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Mlungisi Magcaba: What is your strength (your voice to the community and world as a dance)?

Sabelo Cele: I understand that the intersection of my race and sexuality place me at the periphery of the society hierarchy system and so it is my responsibility to challenge power dynamics in the society. As an artist I consistently do work that centers queer identities with the intention to change how unfairly the LGBTQI+ Community has been represented in the media.

Mlungisi Magcaba: What are challenges of working as dancer and the impact of having to work mostly digitally?

Sabelo Cele: The main challenges have been making peace with theatres and live performances being closed and cancelled. The live connection with the audience is one experience that the body misses and entire adrenaline and experience of preparing for a live show and being in a live show. Another aspect that has been tough is to start the journey to making digital work without any formal training and education. Initially finding the transition from connecting with the audience to connecting with the audience through the camera lens. Currently there is just no guarantee about the possibility of a show being rehearsed and being fully performed. In May and June, I was scheduled for a live performance and in July the virus reached a 3rd wave that led to the hard lockdown restrictions including gatherings being prohibited. We rehearsed for two months only for the show to be cancelled so that amount of training, money and resources was just in vain.

Mlungisi Magcaba: How do you handle the pressure and stress of using dance to overcome the stress of working as a performing artist under Covid-19 restrictions?

Sabelo Cele: I have been lucky enough to get opportunities to make screen dance films and digital Choreography. So, the preparation and films has been a journey that has kept me occupied and, in that way, I have been avoiding the anxiety and depression that comes with shows being cancelled. The stress also comes with access to good equipment to shoot such digital works. I have tried to collaborate with artists and that has been successful so far.

Cele’s Uhambo is available to stream, free of charge on the JOMBA! YouTube Channel for the remainder of the festival, be sure to catch it.