African Footprint - Viva La France! Viva Afrique du Zud!

The “African Footprint” cast returns to home soil when they touch down at OR Tambo International today after a highly successful 5-week tour of France. They return to celebrate their 10th Anniversary at The Theatre of Marcellus, Emperors Palace for a short 4-week season from May 27 until June 20, 2010.

The tour of France began on March 3 with an unforgettable 25-minute performance at Stade De France in front of a capacity crowd of 85 000 soccer fans there to watch the prestigious international soccer match between France and European champions, Spain.

Since opening at the at the world famous Casino de Paris on March 9 the African Footprint cast has travelled some 9000 kilometres wowing audiences in 12 different cities who nightly jumped to their feet shouting for more.

This proudly “Made in South Africa” production continues to celebrate the vibrancy and cultural diversity that South Africa will be offering the many international guests who will soon be visiting from all soccer loving nations around the world.

Other memorable highlights for the cast in France were excerpts of African Footprint being chosen for a special presentation hosted by Coca Cola to celebrate the arrival of the Soccer World Cup in France. Held on Sunday March 14 at the Casino de Paris for over a 1000 distinguished guests which included world famous Cameroon footballer, Roger Milla, and the South African Ambassador in France, Konji Sebati.

African Footprint, having left its footprint on the French TV show “La Ferme Celebrites en Afrique” and instigated by the French soccer Raymond Demench a special performance on “Vivante Dimanche” the cast motivated by the enthusiasm and passion shown by the French audiences is challenged by its return to South Africa.

Bob Yearham, Emperors Palace Chief Operating Officer says, “Emperors Palace is proud to host a show that after 10 years of travelling the world returns to a new venue to entertain local and international audiences alike during the FIFA 2010 World Cup.”

Producer/Creator Richard Loring says, “There is no place where the cast want to be other than in South Africa supporting Bafana Bafana at a time when the whole world will be watching.

This dazzling musical fuses the hypnotic heartbeat of the African drum, the cheerful pennywhistle and the inspiring words of Don Mattera with Kwela-jive, traditional gumboot, tap, contemporary ballet and hip-hop pantsula into an “explosive stampede of song and dance”.

“A show which cannot be rivaled and should not be missed”

The show runs from h May 27 to June 20, 2010. Tickets can be booked through the Emperors Palace Box Office at 011-928-1297 or through Computicket at 083-915 -000 or www.computicket.com and are expected to sell fast.

African Footprint performs Wednesdays to Saturdays at 8.30pm and Sundays at 3pm.

Ticket prices range from R185 – R340. There are various dinner/show packages also available; contact the Emperors Palace Box Office at 011-928-1297 for further information.

Some of the accolades received by African Footprint :
o 2000 Three Vita Awards: Best Ensemble-Best Musical
o Production-Best Lighting 2001
o 2001 “Freedom of the City” Plaque from Atlanta, USA
o 2005 Two Naledi Awards: Best Choreography-Best Lighting
o 2006 South African Tourism Award
o 2008 Paris Match Certificate of Excellence and Professionalism
o 2009 Presidential Inauguration