UMOJA - The Spirit of Togetherness

Venue: Vogue Theatre, 918 Granville Street, Vancouver

Dates: November 29th - December 31st, 2005

Times: Tuesday - Saturday 7:30 pm, Saturday 2 pm, Sunday 3 pm

Admission: Students/Children $25 / Adults $40, $55, $65 (plus service charges) Tickets: 604.280.4444 or http://www.ticketemaster.ca and at the Vogue Theatre box office 90 minutes prior to show time Information: www.umojatour.com Vancouver, BC...

Fresh off the Toronto and Windsor stages, UMOJA - THE SPIRIT OF TOGETHERNESS brings its pulsating musical celebration of South African song and dance to the Vogue Theatre November 29th - December 18th. From the potent rhythms of tribal music to the intricate steps of gumboot dancing; from the foot stomping jazz of Sophiatown to the inspirational full-throated joy of Gospel, UMOJA is a vibrant, colourful showcase of the glorious sounds of Africa that have led to the rich contemporary beat of modern music. "Our music helped to keep us human," the show's narrator tells the audience, "for in Africa, rhythm is life itself."

From the remarkable synchronicity of the Venda Snake dance, to the soaring sounds of gospel and a capella, the soul of Africa bares itself in music. Nothing is ever wasted, music is made from anything, and happens anywhere. A couple of sticks and the boys make a marimba; a few tin cans and the young girls make maracas. UMOJA speaks the language of life understood by any culture!

Through the cast of 40 of South Africa 's brightest and most versatile young performers, singers, dancers, drummers and marimba players, the story of Africa unfolds: as the morning mists melt under the warmth of the African sun, the women walk down to the river to collect water. Balancing pots delicately on their heads, they make their way back to the kraal, humming, to prepare the meal. Even engaged in these simple domestic tasks, music is the underlying rhythm that accompanies their work. Suddenly the ferocious warriors burst in on the scene of tranquility, drumming furiously in aggressive unison. Muscular bodies clad in traditional garb leap, stamp and gyrate, brandishing shields and spears; the village maidens are persuaded to join in a dance of breathtaking sensuality as the male and female bodies merge and separate.

As the sounds become richer and richer underlying it all is the beat of the African continent, the sounds of the drums that have accompanied all of man's rituals from birth to death... like the heartbeat of Africa itself.

UMOJA is the inspiration of Todd Twala and Thembi Nyandeni who created this show to express the joy they feel for their heritage as well as to create opportunities for underprivileged South African youth. UMOJA opened at London 's Shaftesbury Theatre on November 12, 2001 after a successful run in South Africa.

UMOJA ran for two years in London's West End, captivating audiences with its honest energy and performances. During that time, two additional casts were formed to meet the international demands for the show.

UMOJA has toured across Africa, Australia, France, Korea, Russia, Singapore, Japan, Israel, Germany, Sweden, Italy, New York and Toronto, playing to sold-out houses and standing ovations!

. A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to The Nelson Mandella Children's Fund (Canada). www.umojatour.com