The Cape Town-based company will perform Timelapse and join industry leaders in conversations about building safer, more accessible and inclusive creative environments.
Unmute Dance Theatre is bringing disability inclusion to the forefront of Africa's creative industries through its participation in the Inclusive Lens Awards at FAME Week Africa 2026, taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from Wednesday, 28 October to Sunday, 1 November.
FAME Week Africa is a business-to-business gathering for Africa's film, television and creative content industries, bringing together filmmakers, producers, broadcasters, distributors and other industry professionals to showcase talent, build partnerships and explore opportunities across the continent's creative economy. Unmute's participation brings disability representation and inclusive artistic practice into this influential industry space, helping to advance the conversation from visibility to meaningful participation.
On Thursday, 29 October at 17:00, Unmute will present Timelapse, a contemporary dance work exploring how life's experiences shape us over time. Through movement, sequences and physical expression, the piece traces the memories, emotions and connections we carry, revealing moments of transformation, rebirth and new beginnings.
The performance places the artistry of dancers with disabilities on a prominent industry platform, challenging conventional perceptions of who belongs on stage and reinforcing the importance of disability representation in Africa's film, television and creative sectors.
Before the performance, Nadine McKenzie, Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Unmute Dance Theatre, will join a panel discussion at the Inclusive Lens Awards exploring how to build safer, smarter and more inclusive production environments, with a focus on accessibility, wellbeing and sustainability in the arts.
"For too long, disability has been left out of the rooms where creative decisions are made. Being part of FAME Week Africa is an opportunity to change that, not simply by putting artists with disabilities on stage, but by ensuring their voices, expertise and creative vision help shape the industry itself. Inclusion must be built into the way we work, create and collaborate, so that accessibility becomes standard practice rather than an afterthought," says McKenzie.
Unmute's participation at FAME Week Africa is an important step towards a creative industry that reflects the diversity of the people it serves, where disability is recognised not as a limitation, but as part of the richness of artistic expression.
For more information, visit www.unmutedancetheatre.co.za. You can also follow Unmute Dance Theatre on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, or on TikTok.
*Image courtesy of contributor