Lynnette Johns
CHRISTOPHER KINDO, an icon in the dancing arena and the first person of colour to perform as a principal dancer for the Cape Performing Arts Board (Capab), has died.
Kindo, who would have been 60 this year, passed away on Monday after battling with oesophageal cancer. He died in his family home in Simon’s Town.
Kindo was a trailblazer, a brilliant choreographer, dancer and teacher who, because of his skin colour, was never given an opportunity to reach his full potential as a young ballet dancer in apartheid South Africa.
He left the country at the end of the 1970s and returned in 1980 when the arts industry became desegregated. His sister-in-law, Mary Kindo, said he died on Monday afternoon.
The Kindo family were evicted from the property during the 1970s under the Group Areas Act and moved to Ocean View. The family took ownership of the Simon’s Town property in 2003 under the Land Restitution Act, and Kindo’s brother Christopher built a new house on the land. It was to this house that Christopher returned last year.
Kindo started dancing as a young child and joined the UCT Ballet School when he matriculated. He was the only person of colour in his class. While his white counterparts immediately got positions at Capab, Kindo did not.
He eventually left the country and joined the Boston Ballet, but he returned home in 1980. Instead of joining Capab immediately, he was a founder of Jazzart, a contemporary dance company which gave a boost to the careers of many black dancers.
His last job was at Dance for All, for whom he choreographed award-winning shows and taught and inspired many aspiring dancers from poor communities.
Dance for All chief executive Philip Boyd said yesterday Kindo’s death was a tremendous loss to the dancing fraternity. Kindo was ahead of his time when it came to being a choreographer, Boyd said. He described his long-time friend and colleague as a wonderful person with a naughty sense of humour.
“He was able to draw out the talents of many of the students, making them do dance moves they had no idea that they could do,” Boyd said.
Former ballet dancer and friend Gillian Mitchell said part of Kindo’s legacy was his exceptional talent.
“I will miss him more than I think, it feels like a light went out. He was an extraordinary human being,” Mitchell said.
His Facebook page is filled with tributes. Tany Futter said: “Pact Dance company was my inspiration to dance! Along the way I have worked with incredible dancers, teachers and choreographers – Christopher Kindo was all three. “candles, chairs & chimes” will stand out forever in my mind. On Monday we lost another beautiful soul. RIP! I know you and johan are having a good giggle and a catch up right now.”
Cape Town entertainer Alistair Izobell wrote of his friend Kindo: “As I start my day with quiet time, contemplating my day and plans, I reflect on a dear friend who has also taken his last bow. An incredible soul who fought for the rights of dancers of colour to have what was rightfully theirs.
“Always ready for a laugh and always willing to get kids to realise their full potential in the craft of dance. Many moments of great laughs and conversations over the past 3 decades with this soul. I bid you farewell and peaceful slumber till we meet again old friend. Christopher Kindo… Another one to be celebrated at Music ala Kaap this Saturday.”