OYO to share a stage with Botswana's New Moon

In 2016, Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) Namibia founder Philippe Talavera discovered New Moon Dance Academy in Botswana and made a promise to himself that “one day, I hope to bring them to Namibia”.

Ten years later, that vision has become a reality, with three dancers from the academy set to share the stage tonight with the OYO Dance Troupe at the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) as part of the third edition of the MOVEMENT International Dance Festival Namibia.

For Talavera, the collaboration is an opportunity to create meaningful conversations between artists, allowing audiences to connect with the people behind the performances while giving creatives from different countries a chance to exchange ideas and experiences.

Botswana’s New Moon Dance Academy will take to the NTN stage today (24 September) with dancers Larona Mmusi, Lorato Kgangyapelo and Ndumiso Nyoni joining the OYO Dance Troupe in a four-act dance performance.

Speaking with Namibian dancer Haymish Olivier on Wednesday, the visiting artists shared their excitement about performing alongside Namibian dancers.

Botswana dance scene

For Mmusi, joining New Moon was an opportunity to find a creative community and discover his passion for dance.

He first encountered the academy when its team began using facilities at AFDA University in Botswana, where he was studying. “I wanted to audition for a dance crew because I wanted to be part of something."

Mmusi said Botswana's dance scene has benefited from competitions that encourage young people to take the art form seriously and recognise its potential as a career.

Beyond developing local talent, these competitions have opened doors for dancers to connect with performers beyond Botswana's borders. “This is how we can connect more with other people, not just from Botswana but also just competing outside the country,” he said.

For Mmusi, the trip to Namibia represents another step towards expanding those connections. “And now we are in Namibia because Philippe saw something 10 years ago."

He said the academy is increasingly looking beyond its home market, embracing opportunities to connect with audiences who appreciate its work.

Going beyond conventional layers

For Kgangyapelo, who joined New Moon in 2019, dance offers an opportunity to bring together cultural influences and contemporary movement while challenging herself creatively.

“I like defying odds. I like challenging myself,” she said. One of the themes that will be explored in this weekend's showcase is that dance is a world in which gender-based expectations and biases are stripped away, making room for greater kindness, love and freedom of expression.

“For me, executing that and showing people just in movement what the world would be like if we decided to have a bit more kindness and love, and not look at - you have to be this way,” Kgangyapelo said.

As New Moon's lead choreographer, Nyoni has developed his craft in an environment where formal training opportunities remain limited.

"A majority of us in Botswana are actually self-taught. We don’t have a dance school or an art school,” he said, explaining that dancers often develop their skills by attending workshops held from time to time.

Despite these challenges, the country's dance community continues to find ways to experiment with movement and push creative boundaries.

The collaboration between New Moon Dance Academy and the OYO Dance Troupe forms part of the wider programme for the MOVEMENT International Dance Festival Namibia, now in its third season under the theme 'Beloved'. It kicked off on 21 October, with the final performances tonight.

The festival concludes at the NTN with an evening of contemporary dance featuring artists from Namibia and Botswana. The programme brings together diverse works exploring identity, societal expectations, freedom, survival and self-expression, with performances by New Moon Dance Company, Angelika Schroeder, Owela Live Arts and the OYO Dance Troupe.