#ispantsula

"IsPantsula" Dance Crews (South Africa): photos by Chris Saunders, Tyrone Bradley, and Alexia Webster

isPantsula is a form of dance which developed through Tsotsi Culture (South African Township Gangster Culture). The dance was not only used for them to express themselves, but it was also a way of life. Born and raised during in the apartheid era, the dance reflected the violence which they experienced in the townships. The ‘Real Actions’ dance crew have transformed the stereotype and turned kids of the streets and into professional dancers. They run community dance classes and have carried their form into a nationwide phenomenon.  In modern South Africa this dance is accompanied by Kwaito music. You may watch the documentary ‘The African Cypher‘, which shows the dance cultures in South African townships.

Pantsula was originally associated with a class of troublemakers: bored youths who defined themselves with aggressive ways of walking, talking, and dancing. Some stuck plastic to the soles of their Converse All Stars to make their footsteps sound more threatening.

Mancane, Twinkles, Bhanzela, Jokes and Pele started dancing as kids. It is Sello – or Zillo, as everybody calls him – that gave them a chance. When he founded the group ten years ago, Zillo says he 'wanted to prove a point, in a non-verbal way.' To prove his point, he named the group Real Action. The idea was to give a positive contribution to the community, to keep youths out of petty crime and offer an alternative to boredom –  a chance to excel. 'There is hope through dance', says Twinkles. 'You have to think big.' […]

Today they all make a living out of dancing, and when they are not busy rehearsing or performing, they teach kids how to dance pantsula for free. […]

Zillo believes 'the townships have natural talent'. 'Pantsula is such a South African dance. It doesn’t exist anywhere else on earth.' Things are moving fast: Real Action have begun taking their dance out of the townships to America and China. When we found them on YouTube, they had 37 views. When we met them, they were preparing a performance at the 2010 World Cup closing ceremony.

–.via colorsmagazine

Tyrone Bradley's photos feature the Hlaks and Real Actions Jnr Dance Crews.