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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
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