KTM, Mophato collaborate for upcoming show
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Sunday August 14, 2022 06:00
This comes after local choral group Kgalemang Tumediso Motsete otherwise known as KTM Choir announced a collaboration with one of the best African contemporary dance groups in Botswana, Mophato Dance Theatre.
The duo will be working together on a three-day upcoming concert to be hosted at Maitisong from September 8-10, 2022.
They will infuse their talents together and tell the Botswana culture and history in a show that will delve into an exhibition of what Botswana is all about during a show dubbed ‘A Re Yeng Botswana.
’ When addressing the media on Tuesday, KTM Choir board chairperson Lorato Morapedi explained that they decided to come back and remind the nation of who they are while also mesmerising their audience with beautiful melodies and dance that will tell Botswana’s story. She pointed out this time they decided to do things a bit differently, as they will be taking a fresh and novel approach by infusing contemporary dance with song. “We have in the past partnered with a number of artists and groups and did an excellent job.
The thing I love about Mophato Theatre is that they use dance to tell a story. We intend in teaching youth our culture through song. We intend to keep an attitude of prevailing excellence and thus called the choir to partner another crop of excellent movers and shakers in Mophato Dance Theatre. We are excited to be bringing the art of our own masimo from yesteryears, to the current Botswana in song,” she said.
Furthermore, Morapedi explained that the concert would also make up for lost time since they did not perform for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic that affected everyone. She added that the event was a countdown to their two major projects that would take place next year. Those big projects includes KTM Choir’s 30th Anniversary and then competing at the World Choir Games to be held in Korea on July 3-13, 2023.
This comes after they competed with a number of talented choirs from different corners of the world at the European Choir Games a few years back where they brought home a gold medal. For his part, KTM Choir music director, Terrence Dube said they regrouped and continued with the mission and vision of the choir. He added that KTM Choir’s Diphalana would through the show seek to gather space to celebrate ahead of its 30th anniversary next year. He added that they got position one in both Setswana and English songs at the recent National Arts Festival.
He also explained that they decided to sell Botswana through their old songs written by both late and living icons. He added that they would be taking the audience through the old Botswana where there was masimo to the death of the first president’s death in 1980 and the discovery of diamonds through to the current Botswana. Mophato Dance Theatre founder and director Andrew Kola said they would be directing the creative of the concept.
He expressed his immense gratitude to be working with one of the best choral music groups in the country saying it was a good opportunity to be working on the classic music of the project.
He added that they would be repackaging local music again. He encouraged the public to buy tickets in numbers so that they could enjoy their pre-independence treat via the concert. Tickets sell for P500 corporates, P350 VIP and P200 standard per day. They are sold at Webtickets.