‘a voice for the voiceless’
JoziDance Professional Company presents “Dusk to Dawn” at the National Arts Festival this year.
Dusk to Dawn is a hauntingly powerful and deeply emotive contemporary dance work by JoziDance Company, co-choreographed by acclaimed artists Jayd Swart and Phume Sikhakhane. This original piece confronts the devastating impact of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa and beyond, serving as both a tribute to survivors and a call to action against silence, injustice, and systemic abuse.
At its core, Dusk to Dawn is a voice for the voiceless—a visceral, symbolic journey through the lived experiences of those impacted by GBV. The piece moves between moments of vulnerability, resistance, anguish, and hope, reflecting the emotional spectrum of those whose stories often remain hidden in the shadows.
"Dusk" represents the darkness, silence, and isolation that victims endure—often behind closed doors, often unheard. "Dawn" brings the promise of light, collective awakening, and the possibility of transformation. The title suggests a transition from oppression to visibility, from pain to healing.
The choreography draws on personal testimonies, news headlines embedding real-world urgency into every movement. The dancers become both storytellers and witnesses, embodying not only victims and survivors but also bystanders, enablers, and agents of change.
The work blends contemporary dance with elements of contemporary, ballet on-pointe and African movement vocabulary. It is raw and unfiltered—marked by sharp contractions, weighted falls, and urgent gestural language that mimics both the chaos and suppression of trauma. At times, the dancers' bodies seem to fight for space and breath. At others, they move in stillness, bound by invisible restraints that reflect the silent struggles of many.
Swart and Sikhakhane’s choreography is emotionally layered, balancing intensity with moments of fragile tenderness. Each solo, duet, and ensemble sequence reflects different stages of trauma and survival: the fear, the shame, the isolation—but also the solidarity, the resistance, and the healing.
Dusk to Dawn is not just a performance—it is an act of remembrance, resistance, and advocacy. It urges audiences to bear witness, to question their own roles in a society where GBV is pervasive, and to recognize the strength and dignity of survivors.
The creators, Jayd Swart and Phume Sikhakhane, were driven by a desire to use dance as a tool for social justice—to turn silence into movement, pain into art, and invisibility into presence. The piece amplifies the voices of those who have been silenced and creates a platform for urgent conversations that must happen both on and off the stage.
Production Credits
Producer: Jayd Swart
Artistic Director(s): Jayd Swart & Phume Sikhakhane
Choreographer(s): Jayd Swart & Phume Sikhakhane
Music: Phume Sikhakhane
Lighting Design: Phume Sikhakhane
Dancers:
Almar Kanda, Amy-Lee Besson, Ariel Fernandes, Amelia Kruger, Busisiwe Simelane, Carissa Churms, Chloe Meyer, Jadeline Gardner Sandiford, Lisa Smith, Marissa Van Den Berg, Milla Oswald, Thula Cruikshank
About the Artists
Jayd Swart
Jayd Swart is trained in RAD ballet and later in modern. She started choreographing at the age of 14 taking numerous awards in choreographic competitions. Jayd started dancing professionally in the South African dance industry at the age of 16 where she took part in youth company productions, as well as exams and festivals and worked with highly acclaimed trainers and choreographers.
Jayd studied dance at the Tshwane University of Technology and obtained her National Diploma in Dance where she was named best Dancer & Choreographer. She has had the opportunity to work with some of the industry greats and danced with KMAD dance company at this very festival in Grahamstown - National Arts Festival, Dance Umbrella and Dance for a Cure. Jayd teaches Major ballet levels as well as body conditioning, contemporary dance, jazz and acrobatics at a high-performance level at her studio, JOZIDANCE based in Northwold.
Her choreographic works have been commissioned by many companies and schools some of which are Joburg Ballet as well as South Korea University of the Arts. Jayd is the founder and director of the JOZI Youth Dance Company (JYDC) with dancers from all around the country getting an opportunity to work in a professional Youth company, creating a platform to showcase her, and other esteemed choreographer’s work. Jayd also runs and directs the dance department at Kingsmead College, which is currently the top dance school programme in South Africa.
Phume Sikhakhane
Phume Sikhakhane, is a multi-faceted, seasoned individual, as a performing artist, 2x Standard Bank ovation award winning choreographer and 2x Naledi nominee, lighting designer, trainer, international dance judge and theatre curator. Upon completion of his post graduate B-Tech Dance Degree majoring in composition and choreography at the Tshwane University of Technology. He has choreographed, curated, taught and performed on various productions and continues to be an active professional within the professional dance industry, entertainment business of S.A and the global dance community.
Together, they have crafted a piece that is both artistically compelling and socially urgent—a mirror to society, and a beacon for change.
JoziDance Company
JoziDance Company is a bold and dynamic contemporary dance company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Known for its innovative choreography, socially conscious themes, and cultural authenticity, JoziDance has carved a distinct space in the South African and international dance landscape.
Driven by a commitment to artistic excellence and social relevance, the company produces cutting-edge works that challenge convention and spark conversation. JoziDance fuses contemporary movement, ballet on pointe with African Jazz dance vocabularies, creating a signature style that is visceral, thought-provoking, and emotionally powerful.
At the forefront of forward-thinking performances, JoziDance uses dance as a platform for storytelling, activism, and transformation. The company nurtures emerging talent, collaborates across disciplines, and continues to push the boundaries of what dance can say and do in today’s world. JoziDance Company is not just a company, it is a movement..
- Venue: PJ'S
- Location: Hoerskool P.J. Olivier
- Ticket price: ZAR 80.00
- Programme type: The Fringe
- Genre: Dance & Physical Theatre
- Duration: 60 minutes
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Ages:
PG (PARENTAL GUIDANCE)
- M - MATURE CONTENT
- L - LANGUAGE
- Nudity
- Violence
