LAND – A Contemporary Dance Theatre Production
LAND – A Contemporary Dance Theatre Production
• LAND – A Contemporary Dance Theatre Production •
Text on the website of the organiser, the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN):
“LAND: A Contemporary Dance Theatre Production
Choreographed by Haymich Olivier
[…]
Motivated by lived memories of the Old Location in Windhoek, LAND confronts histories of land dispossession, colonial violence, and forced removals, while asking urgent questions about inequality in Namibia today.
In his memoir, John Ya-Otto recalls life in the Old Location:
“Everyone knew one another and strangers did not remain so for long… In spite of the hardship, there was a strange contentment with Old Location life; in the midst of so much noise, serenity.”
Olivier explains his artistic vision:
“LAND is more than a dance piece. It is a reclamation of history, a ritual of remembrance, and a call to justice. We are mapping the emotional and physical landscape of forced removal onto the bodies of performers so that audiences confront the unfinished business of land and inequality in Namibia.”
Through a fusion of contemporary dance, physical theatre, archival sound, and spoken word, LAND aims to carry audiences through both nostalgic depictions, and the harsh realities of displacement. The production ultimately highlights present-day challenges of landlessness, inequality, and social exclusion, and invites audiences to reflect on the loss, resilience, and the ongoing need for justice for Namibians today.
The production features a stellar cast of Namibian performers, including Gift Uzera, Justina Andreas, Treasurique Titus, Shashitwako Muteka, Lea-Liezer Ndeiluka, Roberto Meneguzzo, Sandile Mondlane, Bupe Chiwala, and Maria Rengura.
Beyond the stage, LAND will be accompanied by a public dialogue, ensuring the production not only recalls history but also sparks ongoing conversations on memory, justice, and belonging. The public theatre talk, titled ‘Using the Arts to Address Land Dispossession in Namibia’, will take place on 16 September at 18h00 in the NTN Dance Rehearsal Room.
Entrance for the public talk is free, and the public is warmly invited to join for a preview and discussion with the production’s creative team.
[…]
About the Choreographer
Haymich Olivier is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and activist. He graduated from the University of Cape Town in 2008 with a Diploma in Dance Teaching and an Honours Degree in Choreography. Since then, Olivier has prepared numerous choreographic works for the National Theatre of Namibia, the Bank Windhoek Arts Festival, and the College of the Arts in Windhoek.
In 2010, along with fellow Namibian dancers, he co-founded First Rain Dance Theatre (FRDT), which, while fully operational, carried out community outreach by training young dancers and employing them on a freelance basis.
[…]
In June 2023, he graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with an MFA degree. He is currently employed as a dance lecturer at the College of the Arts (COTA) in Windhoek where he teaches Contemporary Dance, Choreography, and Dance Teaching Methods.
Olivier has represented Namibia on major international stages, and his career bridges performance, education, and research, with a special focus on embodiment, trauma, and masculinity.
[…].”
For full details on the dance theatre production ‘LAND’ see the announcement on the NTN website.
Venue: National Theatre of Namibia (NTN), Auditorium, entrance: Robert Mugabe Avenue, cnr. John Meinert St, Windhoek, Namibia
Map: C3PP+W8 Windhoek
Date: 2 – 4 October 2025
Time: 20:00
Tickets are available online at Webtickets Namibia or at Model stores nationwide.
Enquiries:
Desiree Mentor (Public Relations Officer)
National Theatre of Namibia
pro@ntn.org.na
+264 61 374403