• Choreographer: Thabo Rapoo
• Performers: Faith Maseko, Sonia Radebe, Thandi Tshabalala, Thembi Setiabi, Muzi Shili, Fana Tshabalala and Sunnyboy Mandla Motau
• Musicians: Isaac Molelekoa (Keyboard), Neo Thekiso (Violin), Bethuel Rametsi (Violin), Bongane Kunene (Cello) and Thabo Rapoo (Percussion)
• Costume: Veronica Sham
• Lighting design: Themba Nkabinde and Thabo Rapoo
• Company Manager: Themba Nkabinde

"Rapoo's choreography uses the whole space to great effect and the men stalk and hunt the prey, animal-sounds emanating from off-stage. There are glimpses of Maqoma's influence in the jerks that happen between the graceful, lithe, long movements. Music is an intensely important player in Rapoo's works; it almost becomes another performer. He is an accomplished drummer and percussionist as a result of a chance meeting with musician Tlokwe Sehume in 1998 who became his mentor" - Tammy Ballantyne, FNB Dance Umbrella 2010.

From dancing in the inner city of Johannesburg, Thabo Rapoo (the 2009 Standard Bank Young Artist for Dance) has, through sheer perseverance and an undeniable talent, danced his way into the hearts of national and international audiences. Batsumi is Rapoo's lyrical new work that, according to Nondumiso Msimanga, a student journalist at the 2010 FNB Dance Umbrella, evokes the senses into a journey to experience a community of people. Seamless song and dance celebrates the age-old traditions of the hunter-gatherers and weaves a story of the hopes, joys and struggles of a hunter-gatherer community.

Batsumi is a multi-disciplinary work that integrates song, dance, acting and live music: it talks about men being the hunters and women the gatherers; it enacts the stages of trance that men go through before and after hunting; and highlights the challenges they must face in order to provide for their families. It is said that, for as long as the history of hunters is written and told by the hunters themselves, their stories will favour those hunters for generations to come.

Moving into Dance Mophatong would like to thank FNB Dance Umbrella for commissioning the work and the following funders for their support: Rand Merchant Bank Anglo American NLDTF National Arts Council