TOBAN

English

Welcome to a performance that delves deeper than the surface, where dance is not just movement but a voice of resistance and resilience. TOBAN, the latest creation by choreographer Mohamed Yusuf Boss under the banner of X_YUSUF_BOSS, takes you on a journey through the intricate layers of opportunity inequality.

TOBAN explores the idea that you can always strive to be who you want to be, yet external forces can constrain and shape this pursuit. As the legendary James Baldwin so powerfully stated: “You have to decide who you are and force the world to deal with you, not with its idea of you.”

TOBAN (meaning "ten" in Somali) began as an in-depth exploration of the personal stories of Mohamed, the performers, and all the young participants in the HIDDEN project. These stories, collected during exchanges between Groningen and Katlehong in South Africa, serve as the emotional fuel for TOBAN. “Through dance, we aim to let the audience experience the emotional layers of opportunity inequality, share insights that are hard to express in words, and create greater awareness of our own position and that of others,” says Mohamed.

This performance is an artistic quest for connection and understanding, rooted in extensive research and personal narratives. A talented cast of six dancers—three from the Netherlands and three from South Africa—brings these stories to life on stage.

TOBAN invites you to partake in an intimate exploration of what it means not to belong to the dominant group. Discover the resonances that arise when confronted with inequality and feel its impact on today’s lives and the generations of tomorrow.