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http://www.tcnjsignal.net/2010/02/23/juxtapower-troupe-traces-south-african-roots
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http://infinitebody.blogspot.com/2010/02/getting-got-zulu.html
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JUXTAPOWER/South Africa's Dance and Song was a crowd pleaser with their performance of Got Zulu! A mish-mash of singing, beat-boxing, and stomping, the performance soon evolved into an impressive trio of male dancers. Each showed off their moves, all throwing their legs up in consecutive high kicks that would make the Rockettes proud.
THIRTY5-IN-5 Souls of Our Feet: People of Color Dance Festival
June 25, 2011
Eye On Dance (New York, New York)
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David Bowie, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, Jay-Z, Clive Davis and Mike Mills of R.E.M. all made their way into New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom last night for the Black Ball, an event sponsored by Keep a Child Alive to honor Bono, British actor Nick Reding and Dr. Pasquine Ogunsaya — individuals who’ve contributed significantly to the furthering of AIDS education and prevention in Africa. The event — part honors banquet, part pop concert — opened with thundering drums and hyper-kinetic dancing from Zulu troupe JUXTAPOWER, whose lunges and kicks jump-started an evening that was long on both sentiment and showmanship
Rolling Stone Magazine
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Born in Durban, South Africa, Sduduzo first came to U.S. in 1997 on a scholarship to the ALVIN AILEY DANCE CENTER. He has since performed in Donald Byrd's Harlem Nutcracker, among other projects. He now teaches Zulu, gumboot, and contemporary techniques at various studios in New York City. JUXTAPOWER plans tour in 2003.
Chris Dohse, Village Voice
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“Sduduzo Ka-Mbili's Juxtapower unexpectedly juxtaposed various styles of movement in Izigqi Zezizwe (rhythms of nations), a ferocious warrior dance that showcased the Juxtapower of South African dance culture.
Jack Anderson, The New York Times
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Oct. 25, NYC – U2 frontman Bono was honored by the Keep a Child Alive charity at Manhattan’s Hammerstein Ballroom, who acclaimed the singer’s “groundbreaking and crucial work in the AIDS movement” at the organization’s annual fundraising ball. Sheryl Crow, David Bowie, Gwen Stefani, Jay-Z, veteran record executive Clive Davis and Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong were among the notables in attendance, while event musical director Alicia Keys livened up the evening by previewing a slate of songs from her upcoming As I Am album after Zulu drum ‘n’ dance troupe JUXTAPOWER fired up the crowd with their rousing rythms. Bono’s fellow honorees at the event were actor Nick Reding, founder of Sponsored Arts For Education, Kenya, and Dr. Pasquine Ogunsaya of Uganda’s Alive Medical Services.
By Jerry McCulley
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“One of the biggest highlights at the British Virgin Island's Miss World Pageant included a magical performance by Juxtapower (South Africa's song and dance), lead by Sduduzo Ka-Mbili, a choreographer and dancer who mesmerized the audience.”
Terry Donovan, The Stand Point News
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“Of many standout performances, three were particularly resonant. Sduduzo Ka-Mbili's Juxtapower incandescent dancing highlighted his Izigqi Zezizwe, a quartet of ritual intensity.”
Chris Dohse, Village Voice
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“Footworks' guest artist Sduduzo Ka-Mbili from Juxtapower offered a breath taking solo dance in Banjo Clark, a tribute to African influence in the American musical culture.”
Washington Post Several choreographers emphasized emotional intensity, like Sduduzo Ka-Mbili of JUXTAPOWER, who danced “Izinhlungu Zami” a solo in which he appeared to embody mighty forces of nature.
Jack Anderson, New York Times
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Ending powerfully with dazzling dance moves, and the traditional African costumes added flair to the performers.
Students in attendance showed great appreciation for the Juxtapower performance. Junior Kara Varga said, "It was unlike anything I have ever seen or heard at Marist." Those that have taken advantage of Marist's abroad program and visited Africa also showed a great deal of interest in this performance. "I thought it was great," said senior Mike Lecours. "I went with the group of friends I went abroad with, and the dances were similar in style to what we saw when we were in South Africa."
Review by Angela De fini
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DANCE MAGAZINE'S
25 TO WATCH for 2003
Each New Year Dance Magazine welcomes readers with a tempting array of delectable; Twenty-five dancers, companies, choreographers, or trends that we believe will make you sit and take notice. SDUDUZO KA-MBILI with his JUXTAPOWER is one of them.
Sduduzo Ka-Mbili
(SOUTH AFRICA PERSONIFIED)
Dancer, choreographer & composer Sduduzo Ka-Mbili is a one-man celebration of South African dance and music. The work he makes for his ensemble, JUXTAPOWER overflows its fierce dancing, humour, and generosity of spirit. Ka-Mbili's performance electrifies with his passion for movement and rhythm. Combining gumboot and Zulu forms with Modern technique and tap, Ka-Mbili, 28, crafts an empowering vision of a culture under represented in the United States, a vibrant heritage of indigenous music, dance, and visual arts, and literature often wrongly reduced to images of a nation ravaged by poverty, apartheid and AIDS.
Dance Magazine
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Step Africa’s guest artist Sduduzo Ka-Mbili, originally from Durban South Africa, and of late at the helm of his own company in New York contributed a robust solo, ”JUXTAPOWER” that emoted themes of bondage and freedom.
Lisa Traiger, The Washington Post
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The accompanying African flavoured dance (choreographed by Sduduzo Ka-Mbili) in a loincloth was a bit of a shocker in the midst of jiggles, reels, and bouncing curls, still it was such a standout and the dancing so skilled that no one who attended Saturday’s concert is luckily to ever forget the African Banjo Clark.
Michael Routh, Washington Post
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JUXTAPOWER at the Cox Auditorium
Thursday, October 18, 2007 issue...
The troupe of New York-based dancers have performed for Presidents Clinton, Ford and Carter as well as collaborated with Disney’s stage version of “The Lion King,”Lacy said. “Some students, when they get here, they place themselves in a box. We want to expose them to a cultural that’s different from their own. Our main goal, I would say, is cultural appreciation.”
Melody Gordon - Daily Beacon
“South Africa losses one of its great talents to the United States' Alvin Ailey Dance Center for a year's long training. Sduduzo Ka-Mbili and two others beat over 100 hopefuls at the Civic Theater.”
Zandile Nkutha, The Star
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Audience members’ reaction….February 07, 2007 (College Tour)
Audience member Brittany Achin said, “It was cool the way they incorporated Zulu dance with hip-hop!”
English instructor Seth Bardo added,“I thought the piece that replicated the miners’ movements was terrific.”
Performer Bafana Matea concluded, “We want to portray our world. Our main goal is to get it out there as much as possible and to reach out to as many people as possible. This culture is glorious and we want to share it with the world.”
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Juxtapower, a South African dance troupe was an ideal follow-up to Magbana. Izigqi Zezizwe was the scene-stealing signature performance that made audience members sit back in their seats and take notice. Costumed in a prehistoric caveman motif, the symmetry and lines of the dancers’ bodies would motivate most to head to the nearest gym. The razor-sharp kicks to either side of the male dancers’ heads were awe-inspiring. Wondering how they were able to balance themselves, not fall backward, and keep time to the music might have crossed many minds in the audience. Sduduzo Ka-Mbili and his brother Solomon Bafana Matea, by the end of their performance had new female fans and envious men who would no longer put off getting back into shape. It was an overall powerful performance – funky, hip, and traditional; with original music by Sduzduzo, Tomas, and Lucky Dube.
Kenny Williams, Harlem Writer