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Mimi's Shebeen

Alesandra Seutin / Vocab Dance & KVS
Thu 23.03.2023 - Fri 08.09.2023
23.03.2023
-
08.09.2023

Mimi’s Shebeen is a new poetic dance theatre production by KVS face and artist Alesandra Seutin. Through dance, poetry, singing and music, Seutin takes the audience into the depths of a deconstructed shebeen* and on a journey full of life: of struggle, perseverance and determination.

this is a Mimi Shebeen
our house is her house
we come here, we rejoice and we cry
this is a Mimi Shebeen
people take their places with them
women do not need to be saved
if she ain’t your sister
she must be your aunt
this is a Mimi Shebeen
we dance, we discuss, we lay our lives down here
they can turn everything upside down
but not our smile
this is a Mimi Shebeen
everything is purple here
a life lived on the tips of our tongues
a promise a picture

Starting with the exile of South African singer Miriam Makeba from her own country, Seutin uses Makeba’s legacy as a political activist to convey stories of exile, immigration and humanity.

Mimi’s Shebeen will infuse the unique and unmistakable signature style of Seutin’s hybrid Dance Theatre. Lebo Mashile and Lisette Ma Neza provide the text, Angelo Moustapha and Zouratié Koné the music, and Tutu Puoane sings.

*What is a shebeen?

The apartheid regime forbade black South African people from drinking or talking about politics; they had to work above all else. In order to still be able to get together and relax, activists sought out underground huts and bars, complete with boys on the lookout and storerooms for supplies. There they brewed Umqombothi, or corn beer. If the police discovered a shebeen, they immediately closed it down and arrested anyone involved. Most shebeens are run by women, known as shebeen “queens”.  

Playlist Mimi's Shebeen

Mimi's Shebeen is a dance theatre performance inspired by the musical legacy of South African singer Miram Makeba. She scored a world hit in 1967 with her song Pata Pata, but which songs did she write…
Podcast

Miriam Makeba who?

Zenzile Miriam Makeba (4 March 1932 – 9 November 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. She had a life of remarkable global impact. S…

Interview with Alesandra Seutin

Rokia Bamba talks to Alesandra Seutin about her new dance theatre piece Mimi's Shebeen. Multi-talented Rokia Bamba is a DJ, radio presenter, sound explorer & artiviste. She is an enthusiastic positive…
Interview
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"Deze Mimi's Shebeen is een indrukwekkend totaalplaatje vol moederliefde. Mama Africa is nog steeds onder ons."
Het Nieuwsblad
« Dans une scénographie allant de l’abondance au dépouillement, la voix puissante de Tutu Puoane, qui a elle-même grandi dans les townships de Pretoria, porte la plupart des chansons. Les chorégraphies, toujours sur la frontière entre danse tribale et danse contemporaine, sont enrichies des chants traditionnels ou modernes, de témoignages sonores et de poésie. »
Suricate Magazine
"Alesandra Seutins hybride danstheater bijt, verleidt en sust, en dat steeds opnieuw."
Etcetera
"Met uitbundige dans, met stevige (live!) drums en met snijdende teksten stampen de performers hun woede eruit. De witte overheerser krijgt een driedubbele draai om de oren. Een aanlokkelijke oorvijg, dat wel, die je laat knikken op de beat, terwijl de performers krumpen en hun voorouders om hulp roepen in hun vrijheidsstrijd."
Etcetera

Credits

Alesandra Seutin

Hendrickx Ntela

Angelo Moustapha

Elaisa van der Kust

Kopano Maroga

Nandi Bhebhe

Tutu Puoane

Nosiphiwo Samente

Zouratié Koné

Credits

CONCEPT & CHOREOGRAFIE / CONCEPT & CHORÉGRAPHIE / CONCEPT & CHOREOGRAPHY Alesandra Seutin MUZIEK / MUSIQUE / MUSIC Angelo Moustapha & Zouratié Koné TEKST / TEXTE / TEXT Lisette Ma Neza & Lebo Mashile PERFORMANCE / INTERPRÉTATION Tutu Puoane, Nandi Bhebhe, Kopano Maroga, Nosiphiwo Samente, Hendrickx Ntela/Shorlady Preciado, Elaisa van der Kust/Rose Sall Sao DRAMATURGIE / DRAMATURGY Gerardo Salinas SCENOGRAFIE / SCÉNOGRAPHIE / SCENOGRAPHY Stef Stessel ASSISTENTE SCENOGRAFIE / ASSISTENT SCENOGRAPHY Ine Van Bortel KOSTUUMS / COSTUMES Caroline Fainke SOUNDSCAPE / PAYSAGE SONORE Hans Mullens LIGHT DESIGN / CONCEPTION LUMIÈRES / LIGHTING DESIGN Margareta Andersen & Stef Stessel GELUIDSONTWERP / CONCEPTION SON / SOUND DESIGN Diederik De Cock STEMCOACH / COACH VOCAL / VOCAL COACH Randolph Matthews PRODUCTIELEIDING / DIRECTEUR DE PRODUCTION / PRODUCTION MANAGER Ella De Gregoriis ASSISTENT VAN DE CHOREOGRAAF / ASSISTANT·E DE LA CHORÉOGRAPHE / ASSISTANCE TO THE CHOREOGRAPHER Nandi Bhebhe MUZIKALE ONDERSTEUNING / SUPPORT MUSICAL / MUSICAL SUPPORT Tarang Cissokho ONDERZOEK / RECHERCHE / RESEARCH Kopano Maroga WORKSHOP FACILITATOR / FACILITEUR D'ATELIER Rokia Bamba BIJKOMENDE STEUN / SOUTIEN ADDITIONNELLE / ADDITIONAL SUPPORT Uprise Rebel BOVENTITELING / SURTITRAGE / SURTITLING Inge Floré VERTALING / TRADUCTION / TRANSLATION Anne Vanderschueren, Alex Stockman SPREIDING & TOURMANAGEMENT / DIFFUSION & DIRECTEUR·RICE DE TOURNÉE / DISTRIBUTION & TOUR DIRECTION Saskia Liénard PRODUCTIE / PRODUCTION Vocab Dance & KVS COPRODUCTIE / COPRODUCTION Perpodium, Sadler's Wells London MET DE STEUN VAN / AVEC LE SOUTIEN DE / WITH THE SUPPORT OF de Belgische Federale Overheid via Cronos Invest