Gumboots Various Nelson Mandela

Gumboots Various Nelson Mandela

It is a celebration of song and dance, an global phenomenon that has swept throughout the globe like a tidal wave of soaring faces and stomping feet. Gumboot dancing was born out of the oppressive gold mines of South Africa. Forbidden to speak and in almost finish darkness, the slave workers devised their own language by slapping their gumboots and rattling their ankle chains. In time, it has devised into a genuinely distinguishable dance form that has captured an international audience. Unrivaled in it is energy and physicality, “Gumboots” celebrates the body as a musical intrument, while highlighting South Africa’s rich and complex culture. Songs: Nelson Mandela, Paulina, Ta La Li La Le, Joburg, Shosholoza, Egoli, City of Gold, Sibiziwe Amazinyo Amhlophe, Who’s Foolin’ Who?, I’m Too Sexy, Mabele, Bump Jive, Ughuba Isisu, Dronkie, Train, Omm Ohh Ho La La, Hiyo!, Ukuvalwa Kwe Mine, Asikhathali, Ma-Gumede. 80 minutes.

A dance motion born in the gold mines of South Africa, Gumboots shares the story of the hard-working, oppressed laborers who, since they were not permitted to speak while working, formulated a method of communication by stamping and slapping their government-issued Wellington rubber boots. While this may sound grim (and the circumstances surely were), the resulting motion is fabulously captivating. In an 80-minute performance, Gumboots takes you from the dark mines to the after-shift party and to the dawn of a new day–and it’s all done in perfective rhythm.

Five men in bright blue pants, gumboots, colorful sashes, bandanas, and muscled bare chests move with no problems or difficulties through a series of songs (also available on CD) showcasing the harsh lives of the miners. The ease with which the men dance and the a feeling of excitement on their faces makes their performance closely transcendent. Just when you are laughing at a song like “I’m Too Sexy” in which the guys posture and preen for passing women, they hit you with a searing cry in “Joberg” and you do not forget the generations of slave laborers. The troupe has been together since they were teens on the streets of Soweto and they move like the limbs of one body. When more dancers and a band appear, the party gets louder and more high-spirited as they know that in the morning they will have to return to the mines.

The 1999-2000 tour of Gumboots was the troupe’s global debut. The combining of storytelling, dance, song, chant, and history is invigorating– the audience (at London’s Playhouse Theatre) can’t keep still or quiet; they chant, clap, and dance from their seats. Also included on the DVD is an engrossing 53-minute documentary on the gumboots dance movement, the Soweto riots, and the performers. –Dana Van Nest

Gumboots Various Nelson Mandela Picture

Gumboots Various Nelson Mandela Pic

Gumboots Various Nelson Mandela Picture

Gumboots Various Nelson Mandela Picture

Most helpful client reviews

9 of 10 persons found the following review helpful.
All DVDs must be this good!
By Tom Sanders
DVDs range in quality (not of the material on the DVD, but the quality of the DVD itself) from a low of Kurosawa’s terrifi movie Ran, with its’ unwatchable color smears and ghosting, to this DVD which has the sharpest images and best production values I’ve ever seen. The extra material on the DVD is wondrous and the Gumboots show itself are awesome. Think a South African Stomp. If you love dance and harmonizing music, you in truth owe it to yourself to check this out.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
Gumboostic!!!!
By A
I purchased this DVD sometime ago, but forgot regarding it until I encountered it just sitting there among my DVD collection. I watched it and bwoy! was I taken away or what? Being in the first place from Southern Africa brought back a good deal of memories as we applied to grow up listening and mimicking Gumboot dancing. This is a must-see DVD and the dancing, choreography and music has been excently put together to fetch this explosion of energy and power! Makes you feel like you are genuinely there….

3 of 3 persons found the following review helpful.
Foot Stompin’
By A
Words merely cannot describe what is contained on this DVD! We purchased the VHS version and played it each night for a week and just ordered the DVD tonight. If you have ever seen a Black Greek stepshow, this is like the championship level with gospel harmonies mixed in. It is awesome! A ought to see, over and over and over…..

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