Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Do a little dance...

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.

Jazzart Dance Theatre
Tel: +27 21 410 9848
e-mail: dance@jazzart.co.za
 
 
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