OYO introduces ‘Ilithyia Gone Mad’

THE Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) dance troupe from Namibia, in collaboration with international guest dancer Eveline Castelein from the Netherlands, premiered its new piece ‘Ilithyia Gone Mad’ last Thursday at the Warehouse Theatre in Windhoek.

Philippe Talavera, the director of OYO, said the piece was inspired by the mythical figure of Ilithyia, the Greek goddess of childbirth. “In a country where abortion is illegal, many backdoor abortions are performed,” Talavera said.

The piece is choreographed by Talavera and the cast. He said they worked on the project for four weeks.

“We needed to do a lot of research before we started with the project. It was important to know about the matter so we can bring out the right message. Now we are looking for sponsorship so we can showcase the dance piece at schools across the country, especially at secondary schools because it is where most incidents are occurring. We want the young girls who will find themselves in such a situation to be aware of the risks,” Talavera shared.

Talavera said the idea for ‘Ilithyia’ came about while the team was working on a project named ‘Teenage Pregnancies’. “We have noticed that many young girls have performed illegal abortions. Abortion is a controversial matter in Namibia. A lot of young girls’ health is at risk when they perform illegal activities,” Talavera said.

OYO is a Namibian trust aimed at creating social awareness among young people using art. Talavera said they decided on dancing because it is easy for anyone to understand without having to say a word.

“We can go across the world and many people who don’t understand our language will be able to understand our message through dance. Dancing is also fun and many people enjoy it. It is great entertainment,” he said.

Speaking on her experience in Namibia, Castelein said coming to the country has given her a platform to learn more about dance. “I feel that it is important for a dancer to travel. You see how other dancers are doing things. I have noticed that OYO don’t take as long as the Netherlands do to work on a piece before premiering it.”

Castelein further added that OYO pieces are different from what she is used to. She said at home they do abstract pieces, while it is more about storytelling in Namibia.

“Storytelling in dance is actually nice. I have noticed how the crowd enjoyed the dance piece. They also have something to learn that will better their life. I am glad I came to Namibia, because it has certainly bettered my skills and knowledge about the dancing industry,” Castelein said.