“Thina”

What is the “Thina”?

“Thina” is an ongoing project created by Kate St. Amand for the dancers of SYREN during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Inspired by the work of South African composers Rueben T. Caluza, Philip Miller, and Ann Masina, “Thina” is a multiphasic project that continues to unfold in real time, uniquely shaped by the ever-shifting conditions of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Phase 1 of “Thina” was created and performed entirely via zoom, presented by the Museum of Science, Boston in November, 2020. Phase 2 of “Thina” was performed by the dancers in the space together in NYC (masked and socially distanced) and streamed in an event again hosted by the Museum of Science, Boston in May 2021. The third, and final, phase of the 18-month process involves the dancers rehearsing in the space together to bring “Thina” to a robust, full contact, group dance which will premiere, IN PERSON in the Cahners Theater at Museum of Science in Boston on Wednesday November 10th, 2021.

What is “Influenza 1918”?

This is a new arrangement of an old song, 'Influenza(1918)' which the celebrated South African choral composer Reuben T. Caluza wrote in response to the 1918 flu epidemic in South Africa. Philip Miller located the original 1920 recording online and re-arranged the song for vocals and brass. He worked with a group of talented vocalists and musicians who recorded themselves in their own homes, supplying voice notes for him to assemble the whole song together. Mr. Miller created the project to assist funding singers and musicians who were unable to earn money during the COVID 19 Lockdown in 2020.

The song is available via Spotify and Soundcloud as well as on Facebook and Instagram.

What is “Hope”?

This is the newly commissioned original song by Ann Masina created just for SYREN. Ms. Masina worked with the company to create a song to expand the experience of “Thina”. This section will include be a solo dancer performing to Ann’s A ccapella voice.

What is the final section?

The final section is titled “Thina”, and is the finale of the show. It is another original song created by Ann Masina. This section involves instrumentation and a dynamic vocal performance by Ms. Masina. It gets the whole room moving!

When can I see it?

The Museum of Science, Boston on Wednesday November 10th!

Take Root at Green Space, Long Island City, NY on
November 12 & 13 at 8PM

What does “Thina” mean?

Thina means Us/We in Zulu.

Choreographer
Kate St. Amand
Dancers
Alice Chacon, Rivkins Christopher,
Victoria Ellis, Jessica Nolan,
Lynn Peterson
Composers
Reuben T. Caluza, “Influenza (1918)”

Ann Masina, “Hope” and “Thina”
Arranger
Philip Miller
Vocalists
Ann Masina, Thuli Magubane,
Lydia Manyame, Lulama Mgceleza,
Masibulele Malima, Lubabalo Velayi,
Bulelani Madondile, Reuben Mbonambi

Special Thanks: Museum of Science-Boston, Liane Groth, Richard Katz, Kristen Hafford, Nicolle Bennett, Rosalie Wetzel, Jane Mattes, Eric Knipe, Amanda Johnson, Beverly Martin, Barb & Mark Wetzel, Candace Bertotti, Chanelle Sheffler, Wallace Flores, Linda Stark, Susan Thal, Casey Quinn, Anonymous, Andrew March, Peter Kidwell, Brittany Ceres, Clayton Ellis, Rebecca Mehan, Adam Falk, Katie Ellis, Laura McGowan, Ginger May, Matt Cregor, Lynne & Kirk Perkins, Beth & Steven March,
Jenny Rosenbluth Stoll, Andrea Ritchin, Haydeé von Sternberg,
Sharon & Richard Peterson, Deanne Molinari

Influenza (1918), English Translation
In 1918 there was an epidemic
of a certain disease,
This disease was called INFLUENZA.
It killed all our relatives we loved,
Oh mother, father, sister, and you brother,
In other families everybody died.
It killed young men and young women,
And chose the best people,
It killed even the handsome,
and beautiful young ones,
It killed all those who were still in the adolescent stage,
It also killed the ones who were engaged for marriage,
It killed all those who were just married,
It was as if there was a black cloud on earth,
As if it had come for the young ones,
It was better with the grown-ups but
bad with the young ones,
Parents left orphans in sorrow,
Worried with nobody to help them,
Well, to-day we have forgotten about the sorrow,
It was also like that, to those
who were crossing Canaan,
When they were in difficulty, they regretted,
When all was still well and they felt happy,
They never thought about their Creator,
Only those who worshiped Him went through,
Most of them died in the wilderness,
This is a warning to you brothers and sisters,
Don’t give in to temptation.