#Ilovebotswana Ensemble Takes Art Tourism To The Next Level

Thalefang Charles | Monday April 16, 2018 12:39

On Thursday it staged their world famous production titled “I Love Botswana” at Molapo Piazza in Gaborone for the second time in the country. The first performance was an invite only performance at the GICC after their successful debut in Germany in 2017.

#Ilovebotswana Ensemble is an amazing theatrical collaboration of seven dance groups in Botswana namely; Nare Tsa Pina, Khudu Thamaga, Mophato Dance Theatre, Ntirelang Berman, Skit Beat, Tsoga Africa and Bana Ba Kwena. Andrew Kola of Mophato Dance Theatre is the brainchild and co-director of the ensemble.

Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) is the co-creator and founding executive producer of the ensemble.

Introducing the production at Stanbic Piazza on Thursday, Marketing Manager of the ensemble Kealeboga Motsumi said the performance was a beginning of a journey.

“This journey is to take cultural tourism to the next level, to re-awaken the creative hearts of our fellow citizens, and to showcase our country’s diversity and unity to our fellow Batswana and then to the world at large. We have so much to be proud of and it is time that we celebrate this,” said Motsumi.

Motsumi also revealed the ensemble’s plan of the forthcoming countrywide and international tour as well as a dream to build a school of the arts through The Pelotshweu Trust - Thea Khama’s foundation.

When the show finally began, the ensemble showed some great growth and diversity from the Berlin production.

The performers danced their hearts out despite the challenges of light effects to match the Berlin standards.

The production beautifully samples various dances of Botswana including diware, seperu, setapa, phathisi, dikhwaere, tsutsube, hosana and some contemporary dances to present the country’s diverse cultural heritage. It mainly focuses on famous tourist destination narrated by Gofaone Gabriel Modise.

At the end of the show, the hundreds of content spectators that flocked to the Piazza gave the ensemble a fitting standing ovation.