Jazzart Dance Theatre: Top Dance Talents at the Baxter Dance Festival

Dance lovers are in for a treat this year when the annual Baxter Dance Festival kicks off with a jam-packed line-up of the mother city’s top dance talents at the Baxter Theatre from 3 to 12 October 2013.

Jazzart Dance Theatre will feature 'Unlimited' directed and choreographed by Mziyanda Mancam on 3 and 4 October with 'Seya' directed and choreographed by Jacqueline Manyaapelo on 9 and 10 October.

Unlimited, choreographed by Mziyanda Mancam, looks at a dancer’s intentions of connecting the internal with the external, and how gestures can be used as a means of expressing intention of the body and not limiting the conditions of the body. The piece explores the constant shifts and changes that happen both within and outside the body.

Seya, meaning joy, is inspired by the title track of Malian singer, Oumou Sangare’s, album. The piece is performed by the Jazzart female cast and explores ways of honouring women through understanding, healing, joy, celebration and deeper understanding of self. The piece speaks of individuality and of being grounded in an ever-changing world.

About The Baxter Dance Festival

Now in its ninth year the popular festival is widely regarded as Cape Town’s premier dance platform with over 300 dancers taking to the stage and nearly 50 choreographers showcasing their work. The festival has grown exponentially and has become one of the “must-see activities” on Cape Town’s events calendar.

This year well over 50 entries can be seen, ranging in style from contemporary to neo-classical, flamenco, fusion, physical theatre, modern, African, jazz, and hip hop dancing.

The Main Programme runs every night at 20:00 from 3 to 12 October and is made up of various works of different lengths and features work by established professional companies and that of invited choreographers or companies.

2013

Main Programme

Time: 20:00

Thursday, 3 October and Friday, 4 October

Abeedah Medell (EOAN Group Theatre Company)– When we fall *Contains nudity*
Bradley Shelver (Cape Dance Company) –Scenes (extract)
Alfred Hinkel & John Linden (Garage) – Blood of the Young
Mziyanda Mancam (Jazzart Dance Theatre) –Unlimited
Joshus Beamish – Pierced

Monday, 7 October and Tuesday, 8 October
Brigitte Reeve Taylor (BDRC) – Greyscale
Mzokuthula Gasa (Sibonelo Dance Project) –Ubunye – Inspired by Africa
Louise Coetzer (Darkroom Contemporary) –SwarmMishkaah Medell (Eoan Group Theatre Company) – Re(verse)

Wednesday, 9 October and Thursday, 10 October
Mavis Becker (Theatro Flamenco Wilvan & La Rosa Dancers) – The Soul Lives
Grant van Ster (Cape Acedemy of Performing Arts) – Perfect sense
Jacqueline Manyaapelo (Jazzart Dance Theatre) – Seya
Gabriella Bishop (Yellow Glove Collective) – #barelybreathing
Sbonakaliso Ndaba, Grant van Ster & Shaun Oelf (Freelance) - We came , we saw , we conquered

Friday, 11 October and Saturday, 12 October (FINAL)
Luyanda Sidiya (Vuyani Dance Theatre) –Makwande
Ina Wichterich & Shaun Oelf – You are Beautiful
Ebrahim Medell (EOAN Group Theatre Company) – Shifting Dependencies
Anani Dodji Sanouvi – Mandinga

Off Main Programme
Time: 17:00
Saturday, 5 October will showcase young emerging choreographers and student work.

The Fringe Programme
Time: 17:00

Saturday, 12 October will include work by youth groups, dance studios, school groups, traditional African dance groups and choreographers who have requested that their work run on this programme for practical reasons. It usually features great options for younger dancers and kids, offering variety for the whole family.

Source: www.baxter.co.za