TELLUS is a new work for seven dancers by Cameroon-born dancer, composer and choreographer, Dickson Mbi, co-written Nick Drake and with dramaturgy by Simon McBurney. The work received its UK premiere last week and has upcoming performances in Salford on February 9 & 10 and the Netherlands in March.
TELLUS begins with a simple, intimate act: award-winning dancer, choreographer and composer Dickson Mbi’s desire to tell his son a bedtime story. But this isn't just any story; it's an epic drawn from the wellspring of his Cameroonian heritage, inspired by the mythical deity Mami Wata, a life source of beauty and love whose power can also turn to destruction.
The story follows a young person, disconnected from Mother Earth, who is thrust into a village suffering a devastating drought. Guided by an Old Lady/Goddess, he understands a fundamental truth: humanity has forgotten how to worship and protect the land. His journey is our journey, a desperate struggle to heal a broken relationship and restore balance.
This vision is brought to life by eight dancers of global heritage, fusing intense physicality with ethereal grace. Their world is built by a creative team including video artists Yeast Culture, lighting designer Lee Curran, set designer Ruby Law, costume design by Debbie Duru and costume consultant Fay Fullerton, with sound design by Tony Gayle and an immersive original score by Mbi himself, led by African vocals and Chinese percussion, transporting the audience from gentle lullaby to stirring chants.
