Gertrude and Ophelia Take Center Stage in Dada Masilo's Hamlet

Julia Wagner · 2026-05-26

When you think of Hamlet, the spotlight usually falls on the brooding prince himself. But in Dada Masilo's breathtaking reimagining, the women of Elsinore finally get their due. This isn't your high school Shakespeare. It's a visceral, contemporary dance experience that flips the script on a classic tragedy. Masilo, a powerhouse in the dance world, has built a reputation for deconstructing beloved stories. Her Hamlet does exactly that, pulling Gertrude and Ophelia out of the shadows and placing them squarely in the emotional crossfire. The result? A performance that feels both timeless and urgently modern. ### Why This Hamlet Feels Different Traditional productions often treat Gertrude and Ophelia as passive figures, reacting to the men around them. Masilo rejects that entirely. Through explosive choreography and raw physicality, she gives these women agency, anger, and a voice that resonates long after the curtain falls. - **Gertrude's complexity:** No longer just the queen who remarried too quickly. She's a woman caught between duty, desire, and the wreckage of her family. - **Ophelia's descent:** Her famous madness isn't just a plot point. It's a haunting, physical unraveling that feels disturbingly real. - **A duet of grief:** The moments between the two women are electric, offering a shared sorrow that the male characters never quite reach. ### Choreography That Cuts Deep Masilo blends classical ballet vocabulary with African contemporary styles, creating a movement language that's entirely her own. The dancers don't just perform the steps; they inhabit them. Every gesture carries weight, from a trembling hand to a defiant leap. The famous "To be or not to be" soliloquy? It's not spoken. It's danced. And honestly, it might be more powerful this way. Words can hide, but the body cannot. That's the magic of what Masilo achieves here. ### A Fresh Lens on a Familiar Tale Critics have praised the production for its boldness, and it's easy to see why. By shifting the focus to Gertrude and Ophelia, Masilo asks us to reconsider the entire story. What if this tragedy isn't really about the prince? What if it's about the women left to pick up the pieces? It's a question that lingers. For dance studios and choreographers, this production is a masterclass in narrative storytelling through movement. It proves that you don't need elaborate sets or lengthy dialogue to convey deep emotion. Sometimes, all you need is a dancer who is willing to be completely vulnerable on stage. ### The Takeaway for Dance Professionals If you're looking for inspiration for your next piece, look at how Masilo approaches source material. She doesn't just retell a story; she interrogates it. She finds the gaps, the silences, and fills them with motion. - **Take risks:** Don't be afraid to subvert expectations. - **Focus on emotion:** Technique is important, but feeling is what connects with an audience. - **Give voice to the voiceless:** Sometimes the most compelling characters are the ones we've overlooked. Dada Masilo's Hamlet is more than a dance review. It's a reminder that art can breathe new life into old stories. Whether you're a choreographer, a studio owner, or just someone who loves great movement, this production offers a wealth of inspiration. It's a bold, beautiful, and heartbreaking look at tragedy, told through the women who dance through it.