Pantsula 4 Lyf: Popular Dance and Fashion in Johannesburg

January 29 – September 3, 2017

Pantsula 4 LYF: Popular Dance and Fashion in Johannesburg will feature a series of photographs and videos taken by South African photographer Chris Saunders that examine the township culture of pantsula. Known predominantly as a youth movement, pantsula is characterized by crews of men and women who perform energetic, acrobatic, virtuosic dances. These performers dress in a distinctive style that favors American-made brands such as Converse All-Star shoes and Dickies brand work pants. This preference for American-style clothing harkens back to the 1950s, when the first pantsulas looked to American jazz records for inspiration in their dress. At that time, pantsulas were recognizable by their sharp suits, polished shoes, and fedoras. As the first American exhibition on the subject, Pantsula 4 LYF will introduce this distinctive South African hip-hop style through an exploration of the movement’s beginnings in 1950s Sophiatown, the nuances of the fashions worn, and a detailed look at the dances themselves. A series of Muybridge-like contact sheets will break down the components of the dances, allowing for a closer look at the movements themselves and a deeper discussion of the stories the dances tell.

Organized by Erica P. Jones, Assistant Curator of African Arts, Fowler Museum at UCLA

Gifs by Chris Saunders
Left to Right:
Shavule, danced by Teboho Diphehlo (Tebza2000) of Intellectuals Pantsula
Metermeter, danced by Pele Gae of Real Actions Pantsula
Sparapara, danced by Sicelo Malome Ka Xaba of Red for Danger
Mosheshe, danced by Nkosana Mlauzi of Hlaks

Press Release

Pantsula 4 LYF: Popular Dance and Fashion in Johannesburg