Scars

Using dance, dialogue and original music to explore the meaning of identity, leading contemporary dancers Celeste Botha and Megan Erasmus hope to shift myths and misperceptions about what being “coloured” means in South Africa.

The dancers, who will be familiar to followers of Backstage and the local version of So You Think You Can Dance, will be producing and appearing in Scars, which opens at the Artscape Arena on January 14.

“We’ve both been fascinated about our heritage as coloured South African women,” adds Botha. “With Scars we want to embrace our identity and our connection to both our black and white ancestors.”

Both performers want to challenge the notion that “white” ancestry is more important and therefore deserving of more recognition.

“As coloured South Africans we are used to our family and friends acknowledging their European ancestry, but there seems to be an unspoken shame about our African ancestors,” maintains Erasmus.

“With this production we want people to see that our strengths as a people are derived from the incredible diversity that our heritage comprises and that we should take pride in that,” says Botha.

The duo emphasise that this production is aimed at all sectors of South African society. “Identity is a universal issue and no matter what our backgrounds we are all shaped by our forebears’ choices and by the genetic characteristics – both physical and emotional – that are handed down to us,” Erasmus maintains.

“Through dance we celebrate our identity and show the versatility and diversity that come from ingredients handed down to us. Our dancing integrates many different aspects of our identity and runs parallel to the narrative in Scars,” explains Botha.