CION

An intrigue of dance and music that spins on the weight of mourning, Cion: Requiem of Ravel's Boléro, was conceived and choreographed by Gregory Maqoma who combined movement with his two inspired source materials: Zakes Mda’s novels Cion and Ways of Dying and Boléro - a piece of music by French composer, Maurice Ravel.
Mda's character Toloki, a professional mourner, weaves his way through the story in tandem with the music magnificently arranged by Nhlanhla Mahlangu. He uses the acapella music of Isicathamiya, sung by the Soweto Gospel Choir. Simphiwe Bonongo, a beatboxer, highlights this sound as one of the ways to tell Toloki's story.