DanceHouse brings Dada Masilo’s The Sacrifice to the stage, May 5 and 6

Tswana-contemporary fusion dance draws inspiration from Stravinsky’s powerful work The Rite of Spring

SPONSORED POST BY DanceHouse

The Sacrifice. Photo by John Hogg

DanceHouse presents the North American premiere of award-winning choreographer Dada Masilo’s The Sacrifice, on May 5 and 6 at the Vancouver Playhouse.

Masilo is known for her radical retellings of classic works such as Swan Lake and Giselle. For The Sacrifice, she was inspired by Pina Bausch’s 1975 The Rite of Spring, set to Igor Stravinsky's iconic 1913 score of the same name.

The Rite of Spring tells the story of a Russian maiden who must dance herself to death as a sacrifice to the pagan god of spring. Masilo, who grew up in South Africa and rose through the ranks of European ballet, set out to understand that concept of ritual from the perspective of Botswana’s traditional dance and rites.

Featuring 10 dancers and an original score performed by four live musicians, The Sacrifice fuses traditional and contemporary movements to explore the pain and suffering we inflict on one another, what we owe each other, and whether sacrifice is truly essential for change.

Tickets and more information available at Vancouver Playhouse.

Post sponsored by Vancouver Playhouse.

The Sacrifice. Photo by John Hogg