Emerge to Fly with Jazzart Dance Theatre

After two years of training, trainees of the Jazzart Training Programme will have to show their skills in the production, Bhabha, from 17 to 19 July at Artscape Theatre.

 

Bhabha, (meaning, to fly), a new Jazzart work, framed within the themes of democracy and freedom, is choreographed by Moeketsi Koena and directed by Jacki Job.   This production captures the joy, excitement and boldness of this group of dancers and enables them to emerge and fly into independence.  It reflects the beauty of their youth, spirits and limitless potential with ease.

 

The contemporary choreography of Moeketsi Koena, director of Inzalo Dance and Theatre Company (Johannesburg) and associate director for Madagascar International Dance Festival, promises vigorous entertainment that is not to be missed.

The 2014 trainees are Nichellé Linnert, Tamsyn Spannenberg,  Katlego Moncho, Lusanda Dayimani, Lee-Joel James Bosman, Yaseen Manuel, Lusindiso Dibela, Lewellyn Afrika, Nkosinathi Mngomezulu and Nkemiseng Khena.   They will be joined by Amy-Kay Klaasen and Sinazo Bokolo-Bruns.

 

Jazzart, the oldest contemporary dance company in the Cape (if not Africa) celebrates 41 years of existence.  From its inception, Jazzart has welcomed dancers from across the racial spectrum and specializes in contemporary dance, improvisation, gumboot dance, singing, tap dance, voice and physical theatre amongst others.  The Company is grateful for the continued support of the cultural institutions which will enable productions such as Bhabha to be staged.

Bhabha opens at Artscape Theatre on Thursday, 17 July at 20:15 for 4 performances only.  Tickets at R100 per ticket are obtainable from Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat 021-421 7695.  Book 10 tickets or more at R80 per ticket.  Pensioners and students qualify for an R80 ticket.

 

 

Jazzart Dance Theatre

www.jazzart.co.za
dance@jazzart.co.za

021 410 9848

 

Facebook:Jazzart Dance

Twitter:@Jazzart_dance

You Tube:JazzartDanceTheatre

 

 

About Jazzart Dance Theatre:

Formed in 1973, Jazzart Dance Theatre is a non-profit organisation and a transformative African dance company at the cutting edge of contemporary dance. Recognised as a leading dance company, Jazzart has a reputation for award winning, innovative and imaginative work.

 

Divided into three components Jazzart Dance Theatre runs a very successful dance Training Programme, life changing Outreach Projects and the heartbeat of the organisation, the Jazzart Performance Company.

Performance Company

 

The heart of any theatrical company is the quality and creativity of its performance.  Jazzart has a history of producing innovative performances that have challenged us to think.

 

The Performance Company, consisting of professional dancers, is the public profile of Jazzart.  They display bold creativity rooted in passion, intelligence, dignity and technical excellence.

 

Jazzart’s creative process is an embodiment of a movement language based on improvisation, a core element of Jazzart’s training methodology.  The incorporation of improvisation generates a dynamic choreographic practice and provides inventive platforms for world class performances that reflect the ever-changing socio-political environment of South Africa and the world.

 

Training Programme

 

The Jazzart Training Programme provides full-time dance theatre training to young adults and is also the philosophical foundation for the Performance Company and the Outreach Programme.

 

Outreach Programme

 

The Outreach Programme provides dance, performance, training and creative interventions to about many young people each year.  These interventions use the arts as an educational tool and enables young people, mainly in historically disadvantaged communities to express their creativity.

Jazzart Dance Theatre at the Peace Festival in Cape Town Company Gardens on 1 June 2014

 

 

THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE YOUTH GROUP (IPYG) SOUTH AFRICA HOSTED AN INTERANTIONAL LEADERS PEACE FESTIVAL IN THE COMPANY GARDENS ON THE 1 JUNE 2014

The International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) hosted a Peace Walk on 25 May 2013 in Seoul, South Korea, which attracted 27 000 people from across the globe in the hope of achieving world peace and unifying the whole world. In remembrance of the event last year, the IPYG South African Branch, hosted the 1st Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace and the IPYG Peace Walk on Sunday, 1 June 2014 in the Company Gardens.  

The event started with a Commemoration Ceremony where the opening sounds of the trumpet signified the call to unify all religions, races and cultures in the pursuit of peace. A moment of silence for the girls who went missing in Nigeria as well as for the Korean Ferry disaster victims was held. Video clips of various peace activities of the IPYG and the works of Manhee Lee, the Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) were shown. The clips showed the activities of how Mr Lee travelled around the world to persuade numerous world religious leaders and former presidents to sign the peace agreement and come together for the Declaration of World Peace. Participants were amazed when they watched how Mr Lee achieved the peace agreement between the Catholic Church and Islam in Mindanao Island, Philippines, where more than 100,000 have been killed because of religious conflict.

Speeches from invited guests Insaaf Isaacs (Muslim Students’ Association Representative), Taniya Kleinhans-Cedras (Institute for the Restoration of the Aborigines of South Africa), and Wayde Groep (Student Representative from the University of Stellenbosch) showed how people from different backgrounds can unite under the same banner to promote the achievement of world peace. The lovely Aviva Pelham and Levy Sekgapane warmed the guests’ hearts by singing
The Prayer and the ceremony closed with the IPYG youth choir performing We are the world.

After the commemorative ceremony all the attendees took part in a peace walk commemorating the peace walk which took place in Seoul, Korea on 25 May 2013. During the walk, the Declaration of World Peace was read by IPYG representatives and the walk was done in pursuit of promoting unification for world peace and the cessation of war.

The Peace Festival followed with bead making, biscuit decorating, face painting, hands for peace painting, origami, weaving and peace tree note writing taking place across the different areas. Each activity had a concept relating to the achievement of world peace. One significant activity was the
Peace Tree activity where learners were encouraged to write notes to the families who are victim to the abominable acts of kid-napping in Nigeria. These notes will be delivered to the families through the assistance of the Graca Michel Trust. Throughout the afternoon there were performances by different musicians and dancers, including the Rainbow Academy and Jazzart Dance Theatre.

www.jazzart.co.za

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

 

 

 

Jazzart Dance Theatre

Tel: +27 21 410 9848

e-mail: dance@jazzart.co.za

www.jazzart.co.za

Facebook:Jazzart Dance

Twitter:@Jazzart_dance

You Tube:JazzartDanceTheatre

 

Azishe! 2013

Jazzart Dance Theatre Presented Azishe! an explosive celebration of dance from across the country from the 4 – 7 July 2013. 

Translated from isiZulu, azishe means “let it burn” comes from the energy, passion and hunger to succeed that its participants have brought to Jazzart Dance Theatre’s, Azishe!, festival stage since 1999.

The annual dance festival provides a professional performance platform for young people to grow professionally from the opportunity to perform, under the guidance of accomplished professional choreographers and teachers, in a fully‐equipped theatre and to develop their creative and performance skills.

This year was a celebration of the various participants’ journeys, expressed through their inspiring different styles of dance. Azishe! provides a platform for professional dancers to share their work, while also nurturing emerging companies and creating space for community initiatives that build skills, confidence and empowerment.

The following groups performed fine examples of the way dance is moving and expressing new ideas.

 

 

Afrika Tikkun - Iqala Ngam 'We just wanna be Children'

 

 

Choreography: Fazeka Paul

The name Iqala Ngam which means “For change to take place it must start with me”. The motivation is for young girls to enjoy their lives and learn to survive within their circumstances. By knowing that their future only depends on them, by making the right choices now.

 

 

 

Jazzart Dance Theatre Outreach - Umlando

 

Choreography: Aphiwe Live and Wendy Thoane

This work was performed for the first time by two of the groups from Jazzart’s Outreach programme: Future Line Academy and Gijima Creative Arts respectively. Umlando takes the premise that each individual can only understand their own journey.

 

 

Dreamfinders - Life Architecture

 

 

Choreography: Mlekeleli Khuzwayo

Dreamfinders, from Kwa-Zulu Natal, performed Life Architecture, exploring the journey of our daily lives, from the highs and hot summer days, to the lows and cold winter nights, the road is never-ending as each day a new adventure unfolds. Shaking hands with the sad and merry, their passion for life which was once raw is now confined within the Almighty's law.

 

 

Jazzart Dance Theatre - Seya

 

 

Choreography: Jacqueline Manyaapelo

Rehearsal Director: Rozendra Newman

Seya, meaning joy, was inspired by the title track of Malian singer, Oumou Sangare’s, album. The piece was 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.

 

 

Jazzart Dance Theatre - You Are Beautiful

 

 

Choreography: Ina Wichterich-Mogane

Shaun Oelf, performed a solo called You Are Beautiful choreographed by Ina Wichterich-Mogane. He explored how we perceive our own reflection which is not always the image that other people see. To become a symbol of change, one must truly believe that we are beautiful.

 

Daveyton Arts Foundation - Elbeko

 

 

Choreography: Linda Lee Mhlongo

Elbeko by the Daveyton Arts Foundation in Gauteng combined dance with poetry, song and music to capture themes encompassing love, uncertainty, celebration and unity in diversity.

 

Jazzart Dance Theatre - Unlimited

 

 

Choreography: Mziyanda Mancam and Christopher Kindo

Unlimited, choreographed by Mziyanda Mancam, looked 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 explored the constant shifts and changes that happen both within and outside the body.

Jazzart Dance Theatre thanks the collaborators for their contribution to Azishe! 2013. We look forward to next years 'production and welcome you to see this amazing piece of art.

Jazzart Dance Theatre

Tel: +27 21 410 9848

e-mail: dance@jazzart.co.za

www.jazzart.co.za

 

 

Facebook: Jazzart Dance

Twitter: @Jazzart_dance

You Tube: JazzartDanceTheatre