“I wanted to put into proximity these two movement histories”: Jeremy Nedd and Impilo Mapantsula

American-Swiss choreographer Jeremy Nedd and South African Pantsula dance collective Impilo Mapantsula began collaborating during Jeremy’s residency in Johannesburg in 2017. What emerged from this was the critically acclaimed work “The Ecstatic”, which brings together the movement language and histories of Pantsula dance and the praise break from the Black Pentacostal Church. This was followed by “How a falling star lit up the purple sky”. This speculative work reassesses the clichéd notion of the hero from the Western film genre, and explores new stories and myths through the prism of pantsula’s rich culture.

Both pieces have toured extensively in Europe to critical acclaim. In 2022 Pro Helvetia supported a southern Africa tour that included performances at The National Arts Festival in Makhanda (South Africa), Maitisong festival in Gaborone (Botswana) and Ubumuntu Arts Festival in Kigali (Rwanda).

In this video interview by Bubblegum Club created in the context of an editorial residency connected to Pro Helvetia Johannesburg’s programme, Jeremy and the members of Impilo Mapantsula reflect on the origin of their collaboration and intersecting interests, as well as what has shifted through the process.