Christopher Kindo, a dancer and choreographer, was born in Simons Town on September 12 1955. He attended St Francis primary and later Ocean View Highschool for his secondary education. His passion and love for dance started at a young age when he and his friends would dance on the streets and beaches of Simons Town. They then joined a local youth centre that saw their potential talents. The youth centre arranged a ballet/dance teacher for them, Christopher’s passion for ballet started here.

 

Due to the Group Areas Act, Christopher and his family were forcibly removed from Cardiff Road, Simon’s Town. Their home was demolished, and were moved to Ocean View. Despite the trauma of being forcefully relocated, Christopher continued his education and enrolled at University of Cape Town, from which he graduated with a Diploma in Performance and Ballet. However, this was not an easy journey.

 

Due the apartheid legislation, Christopher required a special permit to attend classes and complete his coursework. Christopher out performed his classmates, and graduated with a Perfoming Arts Diploma in Ballet. Despite his excellence and his achievements, Christopher was not rejected from the Cape Performing Arts Board(CPAB)  due to his race, and the apartheid legislation of the time would not allow dancers of different races to dance together.

 

Consequently, Christopher left South Africa for America and joined various dance companies which included The Boston Ballet Co, and MJT Dance Co. When Christopher returned to South Africa, he joined numerous companies extending his influence which left an indelible mark on the South African performing arts. Some of these companies and organisations include: Jazz Art, CAPAB, NAPAC, Pact Dance Company, Free Flight Dance Co,  and Full Circle Dance Studio.

Once home CAPAB offered him a contract, which he refused at first and founded Jazzart. This was a significant step on the South African dance landscape, because it was the first contemporary dance company in the South Africa. It was within Jazzart that Christopher’s career as a choreographer began. It was unheard of to have a person of colour be the lead lead a dance company,  make creative decisions, and incorporate both ballet and jazz. 

 

In 1982, Christopher accepted the CAPAB offer and performed as Romeo (in Veronica Paeper’s  production of Romeo and Juliet), and Phyllis Spira (in CAPAB’s a Misummer Nights Dream), this he saw as his dreams coming true but in 1985 he left and joined the National Performing Arts Council where he helped start the Pact Dance Company. In 1992 Christopher became the associate artistic director of choreography at Adele Blank Free Flight Dance Company, this is where he choreographed his famous solo titled ‘Me.’ The solo told the Christopher Kindo story, his history and complex identity living under apartheid. The master piece earned him the 1991 FNB Vita awards.

 

Christopher was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in 2014. Christopher spent his remaining time in his brothers’ home in Cardiff Road, Simon’s Town. His brothers’ home was built after the forced removals, as part of the land restitution process. It was here that Christopher Kindo passed away at the age of 59 years old.

 

Reference List

 

Johns, L., 2015. ‘Icon of dance’ dies of cancer. [online] Iol.co.za. Available at: https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/arts-portal/stage/icon-of-dance-dies-of-cancer-1849565#:~:text=CHRISTOPHER%20KINDO%2C%20an%20icon%20in,family%20home%20in%20Simon's%20Town.

 

Bork, L., 2014. Dancers rally to support Christopher Kindo. [online] GroundUp News. Available at: https://www.groundup.org.za/article/dancers-rally-support-christopher-kindo_2397/

 

Barron, C., 2015. Obituary: Christopher Kindo, ballet dancer and choreographer. [online] TimesLIVE. Available at: https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/opinion-and-analysis/2015-04-26-obituary-christopher-kindo-ballet-dancer-and-choreographer/