Product Description

It is a celebration of song and dance, an international phenomenon that has swept across the globe like a tidal wave of soaring faces and stomping feet. Gumboot dancing was born out of the oppressive gold mines of South Africa. Forbidden to speak and in almost complete darkness, the slave laborers developed their own language by slapping their gumboots and rattling their ankle chains. In time, it has developed into a truly unique dance form that has captured an international audience. Unrivaled in its energy and physicality, "Gumboots" celebrates the body as a musical intrument, while highlighting South Africa's rich and complex culture. Songs: Nelson Mandela, Paulina, Ta La Li La Le, Joburg, Shosholoza, Egoli, City of Gold, Sibiziwe Amazinyo Amhlophe, Who's Foolin' Who?, I'm Too Sexy, Mabele, Bump Jive, Ughuba Isisu, Dronkie, Train, Omm Ohh Ho La La, Hiyo!, Ukuvalwa Kwe Mine, Asikhathali, Ma-Gumede. 80 minutes.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #100289 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-03-20
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Compilation, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 80 minutes

Amazon.com
A dance movement born in the gold mines of South Africa, Gumboots shares the story of the hard-working, oppressed laborers who, since they were not allowed to speak while working, developed a method of communication by stamping and slapping their government-issued Wellington rubber boots. While this may sound grim (and the circumstances certainly were), the resulting movement is incredibly captivating. In an 80-minute performance, Gumboots takes you from the dark mines to the after-shift party and to the dawn of a new day--and it's all done in perfect rhythm.

Five men in bright blue pants, gumboots, colorful sashes, bandanas, and muscled bare chests move smoothly through a series of songs (also available on CD) showcasing the harsh lives of the miners. The ease with which the men dance and the exuberance on their faces makes their performance nearly transcendent. Just when you are laughing at a song like "I'm Too Sexy" in which the guys posture and preen for passing women, they hit you with a searing cry in "Joberg" and you remember the generations of slave laborers. The troupe has been together since they were teens on the streets of Soweto and they move like the limbs of one body. When more dancers and a band appear, the party gets louder and more high-spirited as they know that in the morning they will have to return to the mines.

The 1999-2000 tour of Gumboots was the troupe's international debut. The combination of storytelling, dance, song, chant, and history is invigorating-- the audience (at London's Playhouse Theatre) can't keep still or quiet; they chant, clap, and dance from their seats. Also included on the DVD is an engrossing 53-minute documentary on the gumboots dance movement, the Soweto riots, and the performers. --Dana Van Nest

Customer Reviews

All DVDs should be this good!
DVDs range in quality (not of the material on the DVD, but the quality of the DVD itself) from a low of Kurosawa's wonderful movie Ran, with its' unwatchable color smears and ghosting, to this DVD which has the sharpest images and best production values I've ever seen. The extra material on the DVD is wonderful and the Gumboots show itself are awesome. Think a South African Stomp. If you love dance and harmonizing music, you really owe it to yourself to check this out.

Gumboostic!!!!
I bought this DVD sometime ago, but forgot about it until I discovered it just sitting there among my DVD collection. I watched it and bwoy! was I taken away or what? Being originally from Southern Africa brought back many memories as we used to grow up listening and mimicking Gumboot dancing. This is a must-see DVD and the dancing, choreography and music has been excently put together to bring this explosion of energy and power! Makes you feel like you are actually there....

Foot Stompin'
Words simply cannot describe what is contained on this DVD! We bought the VHS version and played it every night for a week and just ordered the DVD tonight. If you have ever seen a Black Greek stepshow, this is like the championship level with gospel harmonies mixed in. It is awesome! A must see, over and over and over.....