Contemporary dance from around the world

We collaborate with 17 other large-scale venues to present the best in contemporary dance from around the world, and Dada Masilo's latest creation is no exception. The Sacrifice, presented by Dance Consortium, receives its Welsh premiere in Cardiff next month.

Join us behind the scenes to find out more about South African choreographer Dada Masilo, and her astonishing new dance work...

Reinventing classic stories

Dada Masilo was born and raised in the Johannesburg township of Soweto. Her dance training began at the age of 11 as part of The Dance Factory Youth Training Programme. The Dance Factory occupies a renovated bus shed which has been converted into a theatre and a large studio. It is here that all her works are created, before touring internationally to 27 countries since 2012.

Dada's innovative interpretations on classic ballets - reinventing them so they speak to black identity and feminism - have attracted attention from around the world. She fuses different movement forms with contemporary dance to create a unique choreographic style unlike any other. 

Ritual, atonement and redemption

The Sacrifice is inspired by Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring and Stravinsky’s monumental score. At its heart is the epic struggle of the sacrificial victim, danced by Masilo herself. The Sacrifice questions the evil that humans do to themselves and asks what we have to do to change.

An all-South African cast

An all-South African cast of 12 delivers an exhilarating performance with the uniquely rhythmic and expressive movements of Tswana; the traditional dance of Botswana which is often used in storytelling and in healing ceremonies.

Creating an original score

The Sacrifice features an original score performed live on stage by violinist Leroy Mapholo, percussionist Tlale Makhene, pianist Nathi Shongwe and opera and gospel choir singer Ann Masina as a powerful mother/goddess figure.