Opening of Molly Blackburn Hall

Lunchtime Thursday 19 September saw the Sarah Baartman Hall on UCT Upper Campus come alive with performances and talks. 

In a hall that is marked by the severity of its architecture, choreographers, dancers, performers and students humanised the campus through a series of short interventions. The call for a gathering was led by Abengcongolo, directed by Manda Mbothwe, who invite audiences through the Uhlambululo processional ritual. In the hall itself, vivid and evocative performances celebrated the right to claim space and place. Works included a dance choreographed by UCT Centre for Theatre, Dance & Performance Studies (CTDPS) lecturer Maxwell Rani. 

Aptly for Heritage Month, a series of performances by UCT’s young choreographers further asked us to reconsider not only our history, but also how we are constructing our future heritage. Dr Nomusa Makhubu introduced newly acquired artworks from the UCT Works of Art Collection, Committee Chair Jay Pather revealed the newly curated spaces in a visual presentation and Gillian Cox officially open the Molly Blackburn Hall.

In pictures:

Uhlambululo Cleansing Ritual. Curated by: Mandla Mbothwe. Picture: Jasmin Valcarel Photography 

Abalala Ngengub' Emdaka. Choreographer: Nasfa Ncanywa. Picture: Brenton Geach

Ngeny'imini Sophendulelwa. Choreographer: Xolani Maxwell Rani. Picture: Jasmin Valcarel Photography

State of the Art at UCT. Nomusa Makhubu and Jay Pather. Picture: Brenton Geach

Resonate. Choreographer: Ngobunono Mtshabe. Picture: Jasmin Valcarel Photography

Tribute to Molly Blackburn. Speaker: Gillian Cox. Picture: Brenton Geach

Black Tide. Choreographer: Miliswa Mbandazayo. Picture: Brenton Geach

Black Tide. Choreographer: Miliswa Mbandazayo. Picture: Brenton Geach

Black Tide. Choreographer: Miliswa Mbandazayo. Picture: Brenton Geach