Stripped Down to the Truth

Kirsten Holder
The concept of using nudity to make a statement is extremely powerful and opens up a rare sense of vulnerability.
Skin, choreographedbyLliane Loots, danced byThobeka Quvane (aka) TeeKay, is an intently powerful and personal work which deals with the idea of skin on many different levels.
The set comprised of three chairs and three suspended light bulbs, a projection screen with images of the Swazi reed dance, stop motion animation of a man’s suit and the slaughter of an animal. These images were very intense and gave the work a chilling quality.
In the post-performance interview, the choreographer responded to a question of why one of the chairs on the set was not used, saying that it was to symbolise how we abandon the history we, as women choose not to engage, and also the fear involved.
TeeKay's display of strength and technical virtuosity gave the work an amazing texture that speaks to the heart of women who torture themselves and strip themselves almost naked in search of their truth. The breast nudity was an effective way to break the audience’s comfort zone as well as providing a cultural context.
Music and video can either make or break a choreographer's work, and in this case videographer Karen Logan and Liam Magner have created richly textured projections and a musical soundscape (including Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring), respectively..