OYO to immortalise Picasso with unique dance production

By Martha Nangombe

THE Embassy of Spain in Windhoek has commissioned the Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) to create a special dance production to tribute the legendary Pablo Ruiz Picasso.
During his 75-year career, Picasso wrote 13,500 paintings and designs, 100,000 prints or engravings, 34,000 books’ illustrations, and 300 sculptures or ceramics.

This year marked the 50th anniversary of Picasso’s death.
Picasso died on April 8, 1973.
The show will take place on October 19 at the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN), and a public performance open to all will be held on October 19.
Entrance is free, but patrons must collect their tickets in advance at the National Theatre of Namibia.
Choreographer Phillippe Talavera pointed out that the performance will not be a biography of Picasso’s life but a tribute to his work.
“The performance will be a tribute to his work. We were inspired by several pieces such as ‘La vie’ or ‘famille de saltimbanques’ and developed sections from those. Picasso is also the first one to have used collages and reused items. So, dancers will reuse and transform objects, create and then deconstruct the stage as the piece goes on,” Talavera explained.
Renowned music composer Pondi Dikuua created the soundtrack and featured poems and texts written mainly by Picasso read by Dikuua, Gregory Decroocq and Jesus Lasso Chateau.
Costumes to be worn in the production were designed by UNAM fashion designers Isabella Fernando, Maija-Liisa Nautende, Quin-Leigh Hammond, Laimi Ndapunikwa, Laimi Ndinelao Moses, Monika Shapumba and Elizabeth Kaulu.

Talavera and the OYO dance company, led by Desmond Kamerika, Mary-Jane Andreas and Sydney Farao, will perform the tribute.

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