INALA, EIF dance review: 'overflowing with humanity and connection'

INALA ★★★★

The Lyceum, until 16 August

It’s hard to imagine a title more fitting for this show than INALA. Translating from Zulu to mean ‘abundance of goodwill’, this joy-filled hour was overflowing with humanity and connection.

Originally seen at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2014 (and brought in as a last-minute replacement for cancelled show, Ingoma), INALA has been busy touring the world and garnering a Grammy nomination.

This time around, however, the full ‘Zulu ballet’ choreographed by Mark Baldwin and fleshed out by contemporary dancers, was not in attendance. The nine singers who did appear, however, were alive with movement drawn from various African styles. So while their voices filled the auditorium with delicious harmonies and exuberant calls, their bodies reflected the nuance of each song.

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Hailing from Soweto in South African, the nine-strong company knitted together like a tight-fitting garment, both vocally and emotionally. Upbeat songs found them kicking high and bouncing rhythmically, arms wide and inviting.

When the tone shifted to a more sombre place, so did they, closing in on each other in a show of tender support. Behind them, Joshua Harriette’s dazzling lighting design changed shape and colour to match the mood.

In total, these warm voices washed over us 20 times, delivering songs that captured an array of sentiments. From the proudly optimistic We Will Overcome, Beautiful South Africa, and We Will Meet Again to the more reflective Who Will You Blame? and Grief.

Although we lost them from the dancing party, whenever they stepped back to play their instruments, the songs always benefitted from the live piano of Diniloxolo Ndlakuse and Boemo Banyatsi on percussion.

If there’s a minor gripe, it’s that we were not privy to the narratives being played out. Their passion spoke volumes, but supertitles translating from Zulu to English might have brought us closer to the storytelling. Kelly Apter

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