A conceptually explosive poetry event will take place on the Spier wine estate outside Stellenbosch on May 10 and 11, reports Leon de Kock.
Dancing in Other Words includes a week-long, closed-door deliberation among poets and writers from many parts of the globe. The festival will culminate in open sessions, including both intensive discussions and expertly directed poetry performances.
The poets will be gathering in the Boland from Monday May 6 under the auspices of the Breyten Breytenbach-led Pirogue collective, in conjunction with Spier. The South African participants are a commanding lyrical foursome — Breytenbach, Marlene van Niekerk, Antjie Krog and Petra Müller.
The “world” poets are the South Korean poet Ko Un, Carolyn Forché (United States), Yang Lian (China, in exile), Joachim Sartorius (Germany), Tomaz Salamun (Slovenia) and David Shulman (Israel). The discussion moderators include Kole Omotoso, Gunther Pakendorf, and Nigerian Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Dele Olojede.
After “travelling and translating” together, in conversation, the assembly culminates in a public programme at Spier on Friday May 10 and Saturday May 11. The day programme consists of afternoon conversations and master classes, with evening readings that will be stage-crafted and a musical performance under the guidance of the radical theatre director Marthinus Basson.
The final session at 9pm on Saturday is billed simply as “dancing”, with the R150 entry including both wine and food. A kind of Bacchanalian finale, thus, which promises to be a very interesting party indeed.
Full story by Leon de Kock in Mail & Guardian
For booking enquiries, phone Spier at 021 809 1100/ 021 809 1946, during office hours, Monday to Friday, or email reservations@spier.co.za.
