Pula! From Broadway To Gabs With Dance
Thalefang Charles | Monday September 23, 2019 11:27
Even though the show experienced some disturbing sound glitches, the local production team produced an almost a match of a Broadway production standard. Directed and written by Andrew Kola of Mophato Dance Theatre, Pula (Setswana name for rain) is a powerful dance theatre that uniquely tells a story of Batswana and their relation with rain.
The story presents the scenes of life in traditional Botswana village during the good rains and then moves to a drought season.
What Pula does best is the exploration of deep spiritual tale of the relationship between Batswana and rain.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Youth Empowerment Sport and Culture Development Tshekedi Khama said the production has huge downstream benefits to Botswana. He said Pula is massive production and so proceeds trickle down to many people and other sectors.
It includes professional dancers, costume designers, events companies and many other service providers that are required to pull the job. Khama, whose wife Thea Khama is the patron of the production, has been facilitating the production even while he was at the Tourism ministry.
The production was brought by Ministry of Youth Empowerment Sport and Culture Development as part of the Botswana’s 53rd Independence celebrations.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi graced the night. Masisi was seemingly impressed and overjoyed because at the end of the show he went up on stage with minister Khama and showed his traditional dance moves too.