we wear our wheels with pride…

The title of this piece—WE WEAR OUR WHEELS WITH PRIDE AND SLAP YOUR STREET WITH COLOR... WE SAID “BONJOUR” TO SATAN IN 1820—is a homage to the rickshaw drivers of South Africa’s past. This creation, in which Robyn Orlin invents a ‘rickshaw dance’, is a celebration of dance and song imbibed with a joyous thirst for life. The unyielding strength of resistance that it gives rise to is a tribute to the spirit of the Rainbow Nation.

During the 1970’s, at the height of apartheid, the young Robyn Orlin observed the ornate decorations of Zulu men’s vehicles and headdresses, as well as their sprightly, dance-like steps. The period also coincides with the creation of Moving into Dance Mophatong (MIDM), a company nourished by Zulu traditions and a flagship for contemporary dance in South Africa. Today, Robyn Orlin’s work with the troupe from Johannesburg constitutes a return to a common source. Dance, song and costume combine with explosive effect during this encounter between the MIDM dancers and the breath-taking singing of Anelisa Stuurman known as Annalyzer. In collaboration with the compositor, Yogin Sullaphen, she has developed a style influenced by slam, local Khoisan tradition and research into new forms of modern music.