The rich dance repertoire of Ngwao Letshwao

MPHO TLALE
Staff Writer | Monday May 20, 2013 00:00

They wore their Kalanga gear over the traditional dance leather attire.  It did not take long for the audience to move ship and appreciate the new dances dished to them by the highly versatile Ngwao Letshwao, the performing arts group with about five dances in their retinue.  The group continued to entertain with tsutsutube, selete, setapa, phathisi and mokomoto dance moves that in turn earned them a basket full of appreciation money from those present.  After all, Ngwao Letshwao means 'culture is a mark through which people are known'.The dance moves alone do not make the group what it is.  It is the unity of members through singing, clapping and drumming that produce a masterpiece performance.  The Ngwao Lotshwao Performing Arts Group will be jetting off to Australia on 24 September at the invitation of the Botswana High Commission in Australia.  The group is set to perform at the celebration of the 47th Botswana Independence Day in Australia.  It is scheduled to perform at the launch of the 2014 Australian organised Multi-Cultural Festival.  The group has been together since 2005.  The brainchild and coordinator of the group Odirile Rammoni said that Ngwao Letshwao has grown over time and is enjoying the fruits of their labour. After working at Disney in America from 2000 to 2009, he came back with the idea to resurrect the spirit of traditional dance in Botswana.  This came as a result of witnessing other African nationals such as Ghanaians and Senegalese make it with their native artistic talent.  Although the road to success has not been easy, Rammoni said that he is happy with what they have managed to achieve. He is not only the group's coordinator, but dance instructor.  A good part of his job entails travelling around the country on a benchmarking mission to learn and impart knowledge to the group about dance moves from different tribes.

The knowledge has fallen on fertile ground as the group blossoms onstage with their breathtaking dance moves that are executed with passion. The trip to Australia will not be their first international outing.  Ngwao Letshwao has had a taste of the international market from their 2012 trip to the Belgian capital of Brussels after winning  last year's National Championship with their Hosanna dance.Ngwao Letshwao provides entertainment during state visits and corporate events.  Because of this Rammoni could not be happier.  He expressed gratitude at the companies and individuals who continue to support them. 'It's high time that Batswana appreciate the potential that the arts have in boosting our country's economy apart from diamonds and tourism,' said Rammoni.  He added that Batswana should be willing to take the plunge and invest in the arts because other people outside Botswana are hungry for what the country has to offer through its people.  He is grateful to Botswana Tourism Organisation, Department of Arts and Culture and Debswana for supporting the arts talent in the country and sponsoring their upcoming Australian trip.