Lilongwe-based outfit Rising Choreos and Theatre Company, led by award winning filmmaker and actor Joyce Mhango Chavula, is set to hold over 20 performances in their tour of Europe.
The group is participating in the Festivals du Sud, which opened on Saturday in France, where the outfit shared the country’s traditional dances such as Gule Wamkulu, Malipenga, Beni and Chisamba.
According to Mhango Chavula, the group has, so far, held two shows.
“So far so good, people have loved what we have dished out to them. We have 23 shows in our 24-day tour which has started in France and then it will go all the way to Spain. We are excited to represent Malawi and Africa,” Mhango Chavula said.
The performance itinerary shows that Rising Choreos will hold 16 shows in France and seven shows in Spain.
Having started in France, they will finish off their activities in Spain before departure for Malawi on August 26 2024.
Other traditional dances Rising Choreos is set to perform on the tour include Mwinoghe, Vimbuza, Chimtali, Ingoma/ Ngoma, Manganje, Indingala, Chinamwali and Lupanda.
“We are showing what Malawi is made of in terms of its culture and at the same time we are also learning from them.
“We need more of these opportunities if we are to make progress. For instance, during the first performance, our group had time to teach others how to play our drums,” the award-winning actor said.
A team of 13 members has made the trip which includes six females and seven males.
The trip stems from an invitation that Rising Choreos received in 2021 but failed to go because of Covid.
The Department of Arts in the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture and French Honorary Consul to Malawi Luc Deschamps played a huge role in guiding them through the process for them to make the tour.
About 1,200 dancers and musicians are on the tour from five continents for the celebration of friendship between nations.
Forty five folk ensembles and national ballets are participating in this worldwide folk festival that has overtime become the most important in Europe in the domain of popular arts and traditions.
Apart from Malawi and Tanzania, other countries participating are Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Nepal and Philippines.
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