Amazon.co.uk Review
Since making its UK debut in 1999, the African music and dance show Gumboots has become one of the most exhilarating theatrical experiences of recent years. A unique mix of exquisite tribal harmony singing and high-energy choreography, the show not only took Britain by storm (this was filmed live in London) but also transferred to Broadway with equal success. Taking its premise from gumboot dancing (originally devised as a form of communication by 19th-century South African gold miners), the show combines this with songs and dialogue telling the story of the region, both pre and post-Apartheid. Performed with unflinching enthusiasm and charisma by the nine young men of the cast, this recording manages the rare feat of capturing the atmosphere of the show's live performance. The singing is beautiful (easily equal to the more celebrated Ladysmith Black Mambazo or superb Black Umfolosi) and the dancing proves just as thrilling as the Stomp or the Riverdance franchise. A perfect souvenir for the many thousands who have already savoured the experience, this is likewise highly recommended for those looking for a new one.
On the DVD: The performance footage is backed with an utterly superb 53-minute documentary that explores the roots of gumboot dancing, placing it and the music that accompanies it in a cultural and political context. Examining all aspects of South African life, the film also reveals the inspiring story of the cast themselves--all young men from the South African townships who have taken their show from the streets of Soweto to the theatres of New York, never once losing their charm, purpose or desire to continue the process of cultural development in their own country.--Phil Udell
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Gumboots
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