Description
Explore the minds behind some of the world’s most exciting dance. This episode of Choreographer’s Cut features legendary South African artist Vincent Sekwati Koko Mantsoe.
Men-Jaro, meaning “friendship” in township slang, marked a turning point in Mantsoe’s choreographic journey. Fusing traditional African steps and ritual with contemporary expression, it celebrates the deep physical, emotional and spiritual ties between people and cultures. Accompanied by live, indigenous music and vocal performance, Men-Jaro creates a communal space where rhythm becomes connection and dance becomes dialogue.
This intimate reflection offers fresh insight into a work that redefined Mantsoe’s choreographic language.
Explore the Choreographer's Cut series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEbx0pKgtHQ-H9RpbQFBhYvyxArj5gqyF&si=g2EEqFvF73Qc9Zjh
About Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe
Vincent Sekwati Koko Mantsoe is an internationally acclaimed choreographer, performer and teacher whose work bridges the spiritual depth of African traditional dance with the rigour of contemporary forms. Born in Soweto, South Africa, Mantsoe’s choreographic voice was shaped by his early exposure to ceremonial rituals through his family of Sangomas (traditional healers) and later honed through street dance culture in the 1980s.
Mantsoe’s creations are marked by their visceral physicality and spiritual intensity, offering audiences a deeply human and often cathartic experience. His solo and group works have toured globally, with critical acclaim across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. His performances remain rooted in ancestral dialogue, existential reflection and a profound sense of movement as memory.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Men-Jaro
02:09 Section One of Men-Jaro: Conversation through dance and music
06:53 Section Two of Men-Jaro: A solo and a duet
11:36 Section Two of Men-Jaro: Tenderness
Learn more: https://danceumbrella.co.uk/event/choreographers-cut-vincent-mantsoe-men-jaro/
Filmed on location at Irie Dance Theatre
Filmed & edited by @henrycurtis5372 Henry Curtis
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