Dance troupe seeks positive change
Onalenna Kelebeile | Friday October 5, 2018 14:49
Kalatsakgale aims to venture into business to diversify opportunities as they look for sponsorships. Group spokesperson, Tshepo Tsela took Arts & Culture in to their confidence talking about their serious ambitions. First, they do not only want to be seen and known through dance. They want to spread their wings,but without wandering to far from their cultural leaning.
“We also aim to establish a traditional music academy where we can groom upcoming artists from grassroot level,” Tsela announced.
The group, which is hired to perform at various events in Selebi-Phikwe, is already a veteran of several training workshops with one having been facilitated by experts from Gaborone.
“One of us is skilled in leather works and was funded through YDF. The other one is experienced in beading, so we are just waiting for sponsorship to utilise those skills for the benefit of our region. This would complement training of traditional dancers of all the tribes around the country,” he said.
Tsela added that with a factory available, they could produce large quantities of traditional products. Currently the group is sustained through little money they generate from performances. The group was formed in 2011 by a team of five who met at the Selebi-Phikwe Technical College. They competed in the Presidential competition the same year but could only muster position three at regional level. In 2013 they soared. But the adage, so far yet so near, came into play as they could not clinch position three in the finals of the Presidential spectacle. They were kept at that position for three consecutive years, but in Setswana they say an orphan who resists death is waiting for riches. In 2016 the group ascended to the second position.
That’s how the story of playing second fiddle ended. The following year they clinched first position. With their never-say-die spirit, they repeated the feat the following year.
The group currently prides itself with 35 committed members. Members are expected to sign membership contracts. One of the entry requirements is the knowledge of at least three dance styles. Kgalatsakgale Traditional Group does not have any sponsor. They relies on the support of Good Samaritans.
“The prize monies is too small to sustain us. So what we do is we pay out all the expenses then share the balance equally among ourselves,” he said. Tsela indicated that their secret weapon is consistency and uniqueness in song and dance.
That makes them a group of choice and the fact that they offer eight different dance styles means that they can offer anything that the customer wants.
Because of the BCL Mine’s closure, other members were forced to relocate but the group has taken it upon itself to transport them to town whenever there are major performances.
The group has placed Selebi-Phikwe on the map with their beautiful repertoire,especially when they lit up Khawa Dune Challenge, mesmerised the National Languages Day in Palapye and outdid themselves at the SADC Summit in Gaborone. They have left a mark even in countries like Mozambique.