Smyrna/Vinings Soweto Street Beat Co-Founders Meet with Africa Umoja Cast Members During their Atlanta Visit

Peter Ngcobo and his wife, Isabelle Doll-Ngcobo, co-founders of Soweto Street Beat, a South African world dance theater company based in the Smyrna/Vinings area and Soweto, South Africa, met recently with cast members from Africa Umoja. The young performers were in town to prepare for the opening of Africa Umoja at the Rialto Center for the Arts Nov. 25. The Ngcobos, whose organization is the only professional South African dance and music company in the United States, observed a drum and dance rehearsal and accompanied the performers as they attended local media interviews.

The Atlanta performances of Africa Umoja, scheduled for Tuesday-Sunday, Nov. 25-30, 2014 are part of a worldwide “20 Years of Freedom and Democracy” tour (www.umojausatour.com). The high-energy musical tells the story of South Africa through song, storytelling, dance and drama, performed by an all-South African cast of 32 men and women. Shows will be held at 8 p.m. each night at the Rialto Center for the Arts downtown, 80 Forsyth Street, 30303 (http://rialto.gsu.edu/), and tickets range from $53 - $88, with group ticket pricing available. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling the Rialto Center’s box office at (404) 413-9849.

The sweeping tale moves from the potent rhythms of tribal music to the intricate steps of Gumboot dancing. It incorporates jazz stylings of Sopiatown, joyful Gospel singing and Kwaito music from Johannesburg. The storyline takes the audience from the country’s early history, through Apartheid and into today.

“Umoja” means “together” in the Zulu language. It was chosen as the name of this uplifting production by co-writers Todd Twala and Thembi Nyandeni, with music by Mariam Makeba, Hugh Masekela and others, to symbolize the struggle of all South Africans to find a way to live together in cooperation and respect. It also embodies the mission of the show’s creators to empower underprivileged youths and expand their opportunities.

Africa Umoja is presented by South Africa Airlines and the International Arts Foundation of New Orleans (www.internationalartsfoundation.com). Founded over 25 years ago to promote the benefits of cultural diversity through community projects and economic development, the Foundation has expanded its focus to include art, education and international exchange, using music, dance, song and folklore to enrich communities.