Lliane Loots holds the position of Lecturer in the Drama and Performance Studies Programme at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She completed her PhD in 2018 looking at contemporary dance/performance histories on the African continent. Loots holds the founding position of Artistic Director/Curator for UKZN’s Centre for Creative Arts’s annual international JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience – a festival that turns 26 in 2024. Loots founded FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY as a professional dance company in 2003 when it grew out of a dance training programme that originally began in 1994. Loots has written extensively on contemporary dance histories in Africa and is currently working with Prof Yvette Hutchison (Warwick University) on a UKRI funded project looking at dance, disability and citizenship in Africa. Loots was awarded the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (Knight in the Order of Arts and Letters) by the French government in 2017 for her work (both artistic and curatorial) in the South African dance sector.
Robyn Orlin was born in 1955 in Johannesburg but now lives in Berlin (Germany). She trained at the London School of Contemporary Dance (1975-1980), then at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (1990- 1995). Robyn began her career as a dancer, choreographer and teacher in South Africa – her work immediately got noticed as much for the singularity of her choreography as for the glorious chaos that reigns in her creations. Her (multiple prize-winning) dance piece Daddy, I have seen this piece six times before and I still don’t know why they’re hurting each other (1998), which mocks the difficulties and shortcomings of the young South African rainbow nation, but also classical ballet as a vector of discrimination, enabled her to tour in Europe and brought her international recognition. France has since become a creative territory for her. At the same time, she continued to work in South Africa, where she created Still Life with homeless… for the Via Katlehong company (2007), Walking next to our shoes … with the singer-dancers of the Phuphuma Loves Minus (2009), Beauty remained for just a moment… (2012) and we wear our wheels with pride… (2012) and we wear our wheels with pride … (2021) with the Moving into Dance company. The cosmos of this prolific artist is trademarked by her political character and is recognisable by the presence of a few motifs that recur obsessively: tutus, oranges, and, perhaps more mysteriously, ducks!
Ondiege Matthew is a dancer, choreographer, and DANCE INTO SPACE founder, a group of contemporary dancers, socially engaged performance artists, and the only mixed ability contemporary dance company in East Africa. Through exploring personal stories and employing participatory methods, the company under Ondiege creates touring productions, teaches dance, empowers people with different abilities, raises awareness on human rights issues, and strengthens self-advocacy. DANCE INTO SPACE works with other civil society members, creatives and government agencies, carries out civic education, constitutional education and human rights awareness among citizens in Kenya through the creative arts. As a leading contemporary dance choreographer as well as an activist, Ondiege has been using the mixed ability dance projects as a creative approach to inclusiveness since 2005. The projects address stigma while tackling punitive cultural practices that promote discrimination and basic human rights violations among people with disability. He continues to produce new and original works with his team.