YEBO YES! - SETTING UP

PANTSULA - FAST FEET REBELLING AGAINST APARTHEID

With massive energy, fast feet and brute strength, the pantsula dance style has evolved into a political and social expression of the black population in South African shantytowns. I YEBO YES! the dance style is brought to life and continues to carry its historical power out onto the Swedish roads.

The year was 1950, South Africa was steeped in racial segregation and the political situation was rapidly evolving into a threat to basic human rights. The black community in the shanty towns grew strongly discontented and in response to the apartheid government's forced removals, the pantsula dance style was born. A choreographic language to create a new common identity to express criticism and spread awareness.

The oppressed population could express their resistance to the regime through dance. With lightning-fast steps over the ground and intricate, rhythmic footwork, the dancers demonstrated to the authorities that they were both strong and free. That they had their own style and were ready to stand up for their fight. Pantsula quickly became not just a dance style, but a language and a way of life.

In the show YEBO YES! we meet five dancers, Sibusiso, David and Gugu from South Africa who all live and breathe Pantsula, as well as Swedish Theresa and Joanna, choreographers and founders of Afia. Together they showcase a dance filled with energy, joy and power. The work's electronic music, together with the dancers' voices and rhythmic sounds, fills the room with a progressive feeling. The performance is a meeting of freestyle and pantsula culture - a work in which the dancers explore the encounter between each other and different cultural expressions.

Pantsula retells a story that should never be forgotten. I YEBO YES! its inner power is brought to life and in the meeting with the group's foundation in street and freestyle, community and playfulness are created in a performance that stays with you long after the applause has died down.

Performance in Skellefteå in collaboration with Norrlandsoperan via Dance network Sweden. Part of the See Dance initiative. 

Eng: With massive energy, fast feet and raw strength, the dance style pantsula has developed into a political and social expression for the black population in the South African shantytowns. In YEBO YES! the dance style is brought to life and conti-nues to carry its historical power out to the Swedish audience.

Afia is a non-profit organization that aims to broaden the range of cultural expressions in Sweden through self-produced cultural events and performing arts, mainly focusing on African cultural dances and street dance from the African diaspora. Afia wants to spread joy, community, inspiration, knowledge and history through culture and open up more opportunities for collaboration between artists.

The association is run by Joanna Holewa Chrona and Theresa Gustavsson, who form a strong duo that has been active in the street dance scene for the past 10 years. They have both fought and created events and stage performances. With the common interest in dance and culture, they have traveled together to Senegal, Gabon and South Africa. For the past four years they have organized the festival "Afia Presents Pantsula" with invited guests from South Africa. YEBO YES! is the association's first self-produced work.