With-Out Limits

The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Arts & Culture, a division of the Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture (FADA), is delighted to announce its participation in the upcoming 2024 Vrystaat Kunstefees taking place from 1-6 July 2024.
As part of this year's lineup, UJ Arts & Culture presents its captivating dance production, With-Out Limits, in collaboration with its resident dance company, Broken Borders, under the directorship of Fana Tshabalala.
With-Out Limits explores the possibilities of blending dance and visual storytelling, through video mapping projection, introducing audiences to an exciting and fresh perspective on dance. The production showcases the creative collaboration with Executive Producer, Pieter Jacobs, Choreographer & Dancer, Fana Tshabalala, Creative & Line Producer, Karabo Mtshali, Video Content Designer & Cinematographer, Jurgen Meekel, Lighting Designer & Projectionist, Oliver Hauser, Sound Designer & Composer, Kuba Silkiewicz, alongside Costume Designer Nthabiseng Makone and Set Designer, Karabo Mtshali, in collaboration with the Key Creative Team.
“It is not the first time UJ Arts & Culture finds itself at the intersection of creativity and technology. The division spearheaded this discourse through its ‘Futures & Beyond: Creativity & 4IR’ forums and conference and at last year’s Vrystaat Kunstefees, it presented ‘Black Boi meets Boogeyman’ an immersive XR 360° visual album experience with multi-endings where viewers ‘choose their own adventure’ in partnership with Siziintsomi Creations and Different Immersive,” says Head of UJ Arts & Culture, Pieter Jacobs.
With-Out Limits takes audiences on a journey of a young man from a rural village who aspires to join the corporate world to support his family. This world quickly becomes restrictive and too rigid for him. Over time, he becomes disillusioned with his monotonous routine and longs for the freedom of his rural roots. Seeking solace, he retreats into an imaginary world of abundant nature.
Tshabalala highlights the uniqueness of this upcoming project: “What sets this piece apart is that it is different from what I have ever done before. It is my first time collaborating so closely with a lighting designer and videographer to ensure that the dance piece is seamless and meaningful to the viewer”.
With preparations and rehearsals underway, Tshabalala anticipates delivering a performance that will take audiences on a rollercoaster of emotions where reality and imagination intertwine, leaving them to reflect on existence within the digital era.