Lilongwe-based outfit Rising Choreos and Theatre Company, led by award winning filmmaker and actor Joyce Mhango Chavula, left the country yesterday for Europe to participate at the Festivals du Sud.
The performances start on Saturday.
A team of 13 members has made the trip which includes six females and seven males.
“We are excited to go on this mission. We are set to raise Malawi’s flag using theatre and dance,” Chavula said.
The trip stems from an invitation that they received in 2021 but failed to go because of Covid.
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She described the tour as special in that Malawi and Tanzania are the two countries from Africa that are taking part this year.
“We have had massive preparations and we are looking forward to flying Malawi’s flag in Europe,” Chavula said.
She said the Department of Arts played a greater role by guiding them through the process for them to make the tour.
“A special mention to Mr Luc Deschamps from Jacaranda Foundation, who helped us with the visa processes. As artists, we need more of such opportunities if we are to progress,” Chavula said.
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A letter dated March 23 2024 officially invites Rising Choreos and Theatre Company to participate in the Festival du Sud tour in France and Spain.
“The Ensemble – Rising Choreos and Theatre Company will officially represent Malawi in the Festivals du Sud tour that will take place in Europe where 1200 dancers and musicians will gather from the five continents for a huge celebration of friendship between nations,” the letter reads in part.
It further says that 45 folk ensembles and national ballets will participate in this worldwide folk festival that has become overtime, the most important in Europe in the domain of popular arts and traditions.
Apart from Malawi and Tanzania, other countries participating are Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Nepal and Philippines.
