Emotional Journeys: Reflections from JOMBA! LIVE OPEN HORIZONS
By Hambisani Goge
Have you ever watched a performance and felt your emotions shift as the story on stage mirrored your own challenges? Moments of unexpected laughter amidst sorrow can be deeply moving, and tonight’s performances at JOMBA! LIVE OPEN HORIZONS were exactly that — guiding the audience through an emotional journey from grief to joy. This evening spotlighted emerging dancers, offering a vital platform for new artists to experience the dance space.
The opening performance, “Inescapable” by Siphesihle Vilakazi and Anneline Mazibuko, struck a personal chord. This contemporary duet explored the complexities of friendship as two women, once inseparable, find their bond tested by diverging paths. The powerful closing image of the dancers holding each other under a spotlight was a poignant reminder that friendships, though strained by life’s challenges, can still find a way to reconnect.
“SACRIFICIUM,” choreographed by Thimna Sitokisi, delved into the sacrifices made in pursuit of dreams. The piece resonated deeply with me, reflecting my own experience of leaving my newborn baby to complete my Honours programme — a constant battle between personal ambition and maternal guilt. The dancers’ repeated falls and determined rises mirrored the internal struggle of pushing through when every instinct tells you to stop.
A standout of the evening, for me, was Sarahleigh Castelyn’s “Giselle and Me,” a bold and humorous reinterpretation of the iconic ‘Mad Scene’ from “Giselle.” Defying the traditional ballet narrative, Castelyn used minimalistic staging, movement, and screen text projections to challenge stereotypes about mental illness. Her unexpected act of undressing under a spotlight transformed the stage into a space of vulnerability and necessary transgression, using the body as a raw canvas for storytelling.
The night culminated with BreeH Cele’s pick-of-the-platform “uXinzelelo,” a piece confronting mental health and addiction within Black communities. The most striking moment occurred when the performers, standing in a square, rose one by one to declare their names and personal struggles. This intense overlapping of voices captured the relentless noise of anxiety, creating a visceral moment that compelled me to close my eyes and cover my ears.
Tonight’s performances at JOMBA! LIVE OPEN HORIZONS were more than dance — they were reflections on personal and collective battles. The works showcased the profound ability of dance to connect, heal, and challenge our perceptions of ourselves and the world around us.
See the festival website for more amazing opportunities to see both local and international contemporary dance that will provoke, move and inspire you: https://jomba.ukzn.ac.za
