The festivities continue over the next week-and-a -half, and include: a "Land-Art" exhibition on the embankment by Braamfontein's Melle Street, created out of trees and foliage by artist Neil le Roux in collaboration with the students of the National School of the Arts; a production of Athol Fugard's Nongogo, starring Fana Mokoena and Desmond Dube, amongst others; the Kasi Movie Nights -mobile movies that visit various city regions not exposed to cinema culture; Standard Bank Young Artist winner Fana Tshabalala's dance piece Indumba; and the Speak the Mind Spoken Word sessions, featuring amongst others, Natalie Stewart, one half of the renowned duo Floetry. There will also be a poignant reunion, with Senegal's Germaine Acogny who performed at the Dance Umbrella some 21 years ago, returning in 2013 to celebrate the company's 25th anniversary with her new solo work called Songook Yaakaar (facing up to hope).
A focus on celebrating South Africa's BRICS partnership also sees a variety of art from Brazil, India, and China as part of the festival's billing. Shared Histories brings India to the party with ShubhendraRao and SaskiaRao's fusion of Indian and Western classical musical performance, the Sufi Gospel Project, where traditional Western gospel merges with Indian classical sound, and the Bollywood Public Dance Workshop, amongst other treats. The People's Republic of China comes through with the collaborative Spring Concert Orchestral Celebration, featuring pianist Xue Xiaoqui and conductor Lei Yu, working with the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra. Brazil and South Africa deliver a classical Jazz experience with "South to South - an Evening of the Masters", featuring Hugh Masekela and Brazilian maestro Egberto Gismonti in a not-to-be-missed one-night-only performance.
