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Dance Consortium Dada Masilo’s The Sacrifice

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A group of Black dancers mid-performance facing the corner of the stage.

In a London premiere, South African choreographer Dada Masilo embraces the traditional dance of Botswana in a work inspired by The Rite of Spring.


South Africa’s award-winning Dada Masilo wowed critics and audiences with her stunning re-imagining of Giselle in 2019. Now back by popular demand, Masilo and her company of incredible dancers return with the London premiere of The Sacrifice.

Featuring live music on stage, The Sacrifice is inspired by The Rite of Spring. Celebrating the advent of Spring, a young girl is chosen as a sacrifice and dances herself to death as part of an ancient ritual.

This combines the European heritage of this monumental work with the uniquely rhythmic and expressive movements of Tswana, the traditional dance of Botswana. Rooted in story-telling and healing ritual, Masilo and her dancers deliver an exhilarating performance with an original, contemporary score.

Masilo has always been fascinated by different dance forms, fusing ballet with modern and traditional dance to present classic stories with a new twist.

Read ‘It’s a grief and a healing’: why dance-makers love The Rite of Spring.

Read the free Digital Programme

Header image © Tristram Kenton

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Dance Consortium. Supported by Arts Council England
Tremendous. The whole cast are committed and excellent performers
★★★★ THE TIMES on Giselle
Stunning. A brilliant fusion of classical and contemporary movement that reflects her South African roots.
★★★★★ NORTH WEST END on Giselle

Since its controversial premiere at the Theatre de Champs Elysees in Paris in 1913 the Stravinsky score has become a rite of passage for most choreographers. We recently saw Pina Bausch’s interpretation performed by dancers from across the African continent and Mats Ek and Israel Galván will accept the challenge this autumn. In 2023 we look forward to a Bharatnatyam infused version by Seeta Patel and Dada Masilo’s interpretation not using the Stravinsky score but inspired by the traditional dance and music of Botswana…Alistair Spalding CBE

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