Annamaria Klucevsek, an American from Plymouth, Massachusetts was enrolled in an
independent study for college credit where she travelled alone to South Africa
to study global dance and education with Jazzart Dance Theatre at Artscape, Cape Town. She was welcomed by Eltena Rethman, who is the
fundraising manager of Jazzart and who took her under her wings during her time
here.
She learnt the routine for Seya 'meaning joy' in the annual dance performance called Azishe! in
the beginning of July. She certainly gave it her all. "Azishe" to her
was a totally different dance style from what she had been training for during the
past four years. The technique captured the grounded-ness and effortless
fluidity of the intended choreography. She managed to learn the piece in just under a week. She felt honoured and blessed to have the
opportunity to share the stage with such incredibly talented dancers and
beautiful people.
In her time here, she learnt that dance is a universal
language that we all speak no matter where in the world we live. Our differences
are what makes us unique. "You will never dance like anybody else, no matter how
hard you try. You can try to look the same as someone else, but the way
in which you tell your story though dance, will never be found in someone other
than you."
On one particular day, the Jazzart Outreach Coordinator,
Mziyanda Mancam took her along to teach a handful of dance classes to a community
outside of Cape Town. She was privileged to work with children ages 8-14 from a
variety of backgrounds. The children are not all fortunate to have supportive
families or stable health so they look forward to days when they can use the
arts as an expressive outlet. These amazing children have inspired her to
keep doing what she is doing and to never give up no matter what.
View her blog on: http://www.doalittledancesouthafrica.blogspot.com/
Jazzart Dance Theatre
Tel: +27 21 410 9848
e-mail: dance@jazzart.co.za
Facebook:Jazzart Dance
Twitter:@Jazzart_dance
You Tube:JazzartDanceTheatre
