Review: The Sacrifice (Harbourfront Centre / Dada Masilo)

Closing out this year’s Torque Season at the Harbourfront Centre is Dada Masilo’s The Sacrifice. This Johannesburg-born choreographer has spun her own distinctive version of Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, delving into themes of identity, ritual, and sacrifice. The cast boasts an ensemble of exceptional dancers, with Masilo typically at the helm. Yet, unfortunately, Masilo was absent from this particular performance due to illness.

To many choreographers, crafting their unique take on The Rite of Spring is viewed as a professional rite of passage. Stravinsky’s score, marked by its intense rhythms, dramatic shifts in energy, and potential for narrative and choreographic exploration, offers a platform for choreographers to assert their place within the heritage of dance. For Masilo, this is not only a nod to Stravinsky but also to the remarkable Pina Bausch, whose version of The Rite of Spring she studied while training in Brussels.

The original Rite of Spring, first shown in Paris in 1913, incited riots due to the public being taken aback by the bold blend of music and choreography (by Vaslav Nijinsky). The orginal unfolds in two parts: "The Adoration of the Earth" and "The Sacrifice," telling the story of a young woman chosen for sacrifice to the spring gods. She is forced to dance to her death in a frenzied ritual.

Masilo, however, reimagines The Sacrifice, imbuing it with her distinctive style and lineage. The work diverges from Stravinsky's original score; instead, a newly commissioned, live score captures beautiful African rhythms from the likes of Ann Masina, Leroy Mapholo, Tlale Makhene, and Nathi Shongwe.

Masilo's choreography melds elements from her Tswana heritage and her contemporary dance training. During the show's first half, there are many fast-paced movement sequences featuring constant direction changes, speed changes and different kinds of movement aesthetics. The beautiful ensemble of dancers begins in a playful manner, initially mimicking the sound and rhythm dictated by the musicians, then humorously breaking the fourth wall to inform them that they are playing "too fast," that they need "something soft," and that "we need to breathe." This elicits laughter from the audience before the performers seamlessly transition back into the choreography.

One standout moment involved half the ensemble in a floor section, demonstrating remarkable vigor as they smoothly transitioned from floor rolls to jumping arabesques, then back onto the floor before springing into the air from a flat-back position.

In the second half of the performance, the energy changes gears, taking on a more sombre tone. The dancers swap their earthy costumes for crisp, flowing white pants, shifting the focus toward the looming sacrifice. I was intrigued by Masilo’s unique interpretation of the sacrifice into a more gradual dance of death, and with the added vocals and presence of singer Ann Masina on stage with the dancers. Yet the overall clarity of this section and the fast transition into it, I found, compromised the understanding of the work and made it difficult to establish an emotional connection during the sombre ending and sacrifice sequence.

As for its design, the performance opens with a bare white stage bathed in a flood of warm, orange light. A solo unfolded against a striking backdrop of projected light, evoking the image of mountains. However, the remainder of the performance featured a projection of a stark, leafless tree, which, in my opinion, detracted from the dancing and the stark beauty of the white backdrop.

To sum up, Dada Masilo's The Sacrifice stands as a vibrant reinterpretation of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. This work fuses traditional and contemporary dance practices, all underscored by a live, dynamic musical performance. Though the piece does not fully meet the expectations associated with the rite of passage of choreographing this legendary narrative, it does showcase Masilo's unique artistic voice and the remarkable talent of her ensemble who I would love to see perform again soon.

The Sacrifice, presented by choreographer Dada Masilo and the Harbourfront Centre, is playing at the Fleck Dance Theatre (207 Queens Quay West - 3rd Floor) until May 17th, 2023. Tickets range from $39 - $79. Tickets are available online here.

For more information:
Harbourfrontcentre.com Facebook and Instagram: @HarbourfrontCentre, Twitter: @HarbourfrontTO

Facebook: @dada.masilo

Photo by John Hogg.

Written by Deanne Kearney
DeanneKearney.com @deannekearney