OUTNOW! 2026: »COCONUT / the new white aesthetic« kemelo nozipho sehlapelo

About the performance:

The dancer, choreographer and activist kemelo nozipho sehlapelo brings together two performances with "COCONUT" and "the new white aestitic":

"COCONUT" is an exploration, investigation and examination of and with the diaspora, in particular with diasporic dances. The performers deal with contemporary ideas of being black, being white and the surreal demand to fluctuate between the two.

"the new white aesthetic" is a dance performance, a re-enactment that recreates world-famous marble statues. The performers challenge the audience to question their complicity in the construction of a white gaze. Ballet - understood as the ethnic dance of the Indo-European diaspora - is "mangled". In the transition from image to image, they dance an erased polychrome history. A dance that points to failure: to the failure of the previously dominant and to the failure of a new white aesthetic.

About the artist:

kemelo nozipho sehlapelo is South African. African. A mix of IsiZulu, Sesotho and Ndebele. A mix of all the places and spaces the person has touched. They/she when we use the English language. The name or other terms if not. kemelo nozipho sehlapelo likes to play with this language and its inherent failures (writes). Loves to instigate an engagement with the ancestors AND the diaspora on European soil, and likes to access this knowledge through the vibrancy of body and mind on African soil (dances). kemelo nozipho sehlapelo is at home where the root chakra is. This is currently Frankfurt, Germany. [This will be updated regularly.]

kemdoesitagain.com
Instagram @kemdoesitagain

Credits:

Choreography, concept: kemelo nozipho sehlapelo
Performers (COCONUT): kemelo nozipho sehlapelo, Hlengiwe Sehlapelo
Performers (the new white aesthetic): Isidora Gazmuri, kemelo nozipho sehlapelo, Laura Schönlau, Santiago Mariño
Dramaturgical advice: Amelia Uzategui Bonilla
Spiritual accompaniment: Jorge Alencar, Neto Machado
Costumes: Joelle Marie Oliha/ kemelo nozipho sehlapelo
Lighting design: Dana Maxim, (Tamira Kalmbach)

Guest performance with the kind support of the Goethe-Institut

As part of OUTNOW! 2026 International Performing Arts Festival of the Schwankhalle and Theater Bremen