Seke Chimutengwende: It Begins In Darkness

Sun 8 October

It begins in darkness is a dance full of ghosts.

In this stark, stripped-back performance, five dancers move through mysterious and experimental rites of passage, channelling past, present and future tensions through their bodies and voices. As if to exorcise the haunted house of history, the dancers whisper, jump, wrestle, shiver, wail and laugh -- filling the space with horrors, both real and imagined.

It begins in darkness is an environment for processing the fear, anger and confusion which arise from the histories of slavery and colonialism that haunt the present.

Seke has been researching the connections between horror, haunting and the histories of slavery and colonialism since 2019. The research has included the writing of a long piece of text, a rehearsal period on Zoom, and a residency at a stately home, alongside work in the studio.

This is Seke’s first independently created group piece since 2015, following recent works “Black Holes”, an Afrofuturist duet with Alexandrina Hemsley, “Plastic Soul”, part rock show, part dance solo, and “Detective Work”, a duet with Stephanie McMann about mystery and figuring things out. He has also recently made a new work with Candoco Dance Company.

Join Seke Chimutengwende, Performance Curator, artist and cultural enthusiast, Adeola Dewis, and Dancer and Choreographer June Campbell-Davies for an in-conversation after the performance, in the Theatre from 8:30pm. BSL interpreted by Nez Parr.

Seke Chimutengwende is a choreographer, performer, movement director and teacher.

Seke uses choreography to experiment with collectivity and alternative approaches to authorship and governance; playing with form to shift and question hierarchies. His new work It begins in darkness premiered in September 2022, a group choreography looking at ghosts and haunted houses as metaphors for how histories of slavery and colonialism haunt the present. Seke has also recently choreographed a group work for Candoco Dance Company, In Worlds Unknown, which premiered in October 2022.

Since 2004 Seke has performed for numerous dance companies including DV8 Physical Theatre and Lost Dog. He is currently working as a performer with Forced Entertainment in a new work, If All Else Fails, which will premiere in spring 2023.

Seke studied dance at Lewisham College 1999 - 2001 and London Contemporary Dance School 2001 – 2004 and went on to train extensively in improvisation with a variety of practitioners and with Andrew Morrish in particular.

Credits:

Conceived and directed by: Seke Chimutengwende

Choreography and text: Seke Chimutengwende with the dancers

Dancers: Rhys Dennis, Adrienne Ming, Mayowa Ogunnaike, Rose Sall Sao and Natifah White

Created with input from Alethia Antonia

Dramaturgy: Charlie Ashwell

Lighting design: Marty Langthorne

Costume design: Annie Pender

Composer: Aisha Orazbayeva

Double-bass on soundscore: Hugo Abraham

Sound technician: Michael Picknett

Vocal coaching: Randolph Matthews

Research consultant for the R&D phase: Sita Balani

Producer: Eve Veglio-Hüner

Prices:

£15 / £12

Duration: 60 mins

Age guidance: 12+

Join Seke Chimutengwende, Performance Curator, artist and cultural enthusiast, Adé?lá Dewis, and Dancer and Choreographer June Campbell-Davies for an in-conversation after the performance, in the Theatre from 8:30pm. BSL interpreted by Nez Parr.