Joburg Ballet created a rain dance for Cape Town a few months ago in the hope of bringing an end to the crippling drought. The video seems more relevant to Capetonians now, than ever before.
The dance is choreographed and performed by senior soloist of the Joburg Ballet, Kitty Phetla. Her stage is the dry, barren bed of the Theewaterskloof Dam, which has been completely emptied during the last few months of drought.
Easter weekend rainfall has filled up dams in the Northern regions of the country, but Cape Town dam levels actually fell this past week – despite a bit of rain. Day Zero may have been pushed back to next year, but with delays in the construction of desalination plants and theft at aquifer drilling sites, we still desperately need a deluge.
Ballet dancer Kitty was inspired by Queen Modjadji of the Balobedu people, who is said to have the power to bring rainfall. Watch her rain dance below.
“While we hope it will bring rain, this dance is also an important reminder of the value of water to life on earth, and the necessity to conserve it at all costs,” the Joburg Ballet wrote with the release of the video.
Video: Courtesy of Joburg Ballet