The first American exhibition on pantsula, "Pantsula 4 LYF: Popular Dance and Fashion in Johannesburg," will open at the UCLA Fowler Museum and feature a series of photographs and videos taken by South African photographer Chris Saunders that examine the township culture of pantsula. Erica Jones, assistant curator of African arts at the Fowler Museum, organized the exhibit.
Known predominantly as a youth movement, pantsula is characterized by crews of men and women who perform energetic, acrobatic, virtuosic dances. These performers dress in a distinctive style that favors American-made brands such as Converse All-Star shoes and Dickies brand work pants. This preference for American-style clothing harkens back to the 1950s, when the first pantsulas looked to American jazz records for inspiration in their dress.At that time, pantsulas were recognized by their sharp suits, polished shoes and fedoras.
"Pantsula 4 LYF" will introduce this distinctive South African hip-hop style through an exploration of the movement’s beginnings in 1950s Sohpiatown, the nuances of the fashions worn, and a detailed look at the dances themselves. A series of Muybridge-like contact sheets will break down the components of the dances, allowing for a closer look at the movements themselves and a deeper discussion of the stories the dances tell.
On Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. the Fowler will present a free screening of "Mapantsula." The film tells the story of Panic, a petty gangster caught up in the growing anti-Apartheid struggle who has to choose between individual gain and a stand against the system. The film features the men’s fashion that has become a signature element of the pantsula dance crews that developed in post-Apartheid South Africa.
