we really killed the stage. it was a big experience, especially because, to be honest, it was our first time on the plane. and being in new york, it was something different. you could tell that we were far away from home. the background of the dance is closely tied to the history of the nation. we re on our way to the biggest township in south africa soweto. here, the pantsula has a deeply political message. soweto has a reputation for activism. it was home to nelson mandela during apartheid in the years prior to his arrest. pantsula has its roots in the same era. it matched contemporary forms with traditional african dance an act of cultural defiance against the oppressive white government. talk to me about the kind of social and political messages that you express when you dance.
is absolutely incredible. it s fast paced, it s energetic, and it s technical. but, for young south africans, it s so much more than that. it s a movement that encapsulates storytelling, fashion and social expression. and just look at those dance moves. my mind is just blown! for via vyndal, everything in their act holds a special significance from their moves to their costumes. and their clothes are the colours of the national flag. pantsula, it s a local culture. you would never get it anywhere in the suburbs. whatever we do, we re telling our stories, background stories, through dance. from growing up in this poor neighbourhood, the group has gone on to international acclaim. in 2017, director danny boyle hand picked them to perform at one of new york s most prestigious venues carnegie hall.
now, if you spent any part of lockdown dancing alone in the kitchen, this show is for you. now, for many of us, dancing offers a shortcut to happiness and escape. over the years on the travel show, we ve picked up some pretty nifty dance moves all over the world and have failed miserably at others. so here, for your entertainment and our eternal embarrassment, are our attempts to remain co ordinated under pressure and in front of a camera. let s kick off with my trip to south africa back in 2018, when i tried to keep up with a truly talented group of performers who have made news all over the world thanks to an energetic form of dance called pantsula. they set the bar a little too high for me, though. fast-paced singing. this is pa ntsula. this style of dancing