3 more days until the opening of this year's Dance Joint Student Concert!! Bring your family and friends to see a fun-filled show performed by our open class students and trainees...young and old, and all inbetween...there's something in it for everyone!
This event is also hosted and technically managed by the trainees, giving them a chance to try their hand at Stage managing, lighting, sound, etc.
So, if you haven't booked your ticket yet, get it now at any Computicket or Artscape Box office... or you can call Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Inside Information...
Just some inside info...The dancers are working very hard on an upcoming corporate gig at the moment. They will be performing at Final Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, happening at the Convention Centre on the 4th of December. Exciting stuff!!! It's looking hot!
They will be performing various pieces alongside Johnny Clegg, Angelique Kidjo, The Soweto Gospel Choir, and the dancers of the hit show UMOJA.
Be sure not to miss the spectacle LIVE on one of the SABC channels!!!
They will be performing various pieces alongside Johnny Clegg, Angelique Kidjo, The Soweto Gospel Choir, and the dancers of the hit show UMOJA.
Be sure not to miss the spectacle LIVE on one of the SABC channels!!!
Annual Student Concert on its way!!
Jazzart's annual Dance Joint Student Concert is coming up. This is the time that our Open class students(evening classes) get the opportunity to perform on a professional platform, be it their first time or not...
It also gives our trainees the opprtunity to work "behind the scenes". This could be choreographing, stage managing, lighting, sound, backstage work, costuming, etc.
Not all the performers are professional dancers, but this is their opportunity to shine on a professional theatre stage.
Book at Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat at 021 421 7695
Contact John Linden for further information:
021 410 9848 or email dance@jazzart.co.za
Website: www.jazzart.co.za
Presented by Jazzart Dance Theatre
Supported by ARTSCAPE, Chiappini Charitable Trust, Department of cultural affairs and sport, Distell, Grandwest, Cape Culture ad Heritage Foundation, National Arts Council, National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund
It also gives our trainees the opprtunity to work "behind the scenes". This could be choreographing, stage managing, lighting, sound, backstage work, costuming, etc.
Not all the performers are professional dancers, but this is their opportunity to shine on a professional theatre stage.
Book at Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat at 021 421 7695
Contact John Linden for further information:
021 410 9848 or email dance@jazzart.co.za
Website: www.jazzart.co.za
Presented by Jazzart Dance Theatre
Supported by ARTSCAPE, Chiappini Charitable Trust, Department of cultural affairs and sport, Distell, Grandwest, Cape Culture ad Heritage Foundation, National Arts Council, National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
That day, it boiled …
I am a calm person, who prefers to avoid conflict altogether so, for some, this piece of writing may seem inconsequential. However, I will try to explain why the following incident is relevant to the subject matter of PARTLY GOD.
Only once have I experienced the rush of adrenaline that pumps through veins before acting violently. I was 12 years old and two of my good friends had decided that it was a day to taunt and tease me. I don’t remember the reason for their actions; I don’t remember giving them a reason to do it … I think I was just an easy target and they knew I wouldn’t do much in terms of retaliation.
For some reason, on this day I felt the anger boiling in my blood. I had never before been so overcome with hatred and all of a sudden lost complete control of my usual passive behaviour! Without realising it, my leg shot out from under me and connected with the knee cap of one of my friends.
Her reaction was simply a laugh. I don’t know if it was out of shock or pity but it didn’t seem to bother her that much. I, on the other hand, was distraught. Mostly because I had acted so violently, completely out of character. I think if I were feistier as a person I would have continued to kick her until she cried and I got my point across, but the fact that I felt so bad about kicking her, even though she was initially being abusive, makes me think …
The amount of anger one has to be consumed with in order to act violently is frightening if you consider the brutal acts of violence that happen in our communities every day.
It’s painfully difficult for me to fathom that a human being can be almost entirely consumed by a feeling that one act of violence can affect the lives of many, even millions around them.
A feeling that cannot be classified in any simple terms … just a feeling that stabs us so deeply and creates so much adrenalin that the reaction is instinctively to inflict pain onto another. – Leilah Kirsten, Jazzart trainee
Only once have I experienced the rush of adrenaline that pumps through veins before acting violently. I was 12 years old and two of my good friends had decided that it was a day to taunt and tease me. I don’t remember the reason for their actions; I don’t remember giving them a reason to do it … I think I was just an easy target and they knew I wouldn’t do much in terms of retaliation.
For some reason, on this day I felt the anger boiling in my blood. I had never before been so overcome with hatred and all of a sudden lost complete control of my usual passive behaviour! Without realising it, my leg shot out from under me and connected with the knee cap of one of my friends.
Her reaction was simply a laugh. I don’t know if it was out of shock or pity but it didn’t seem to bother her that much. I, on the other hand, was distraught. Mostly because I had acted so violently, completely out of character. I think if I were feistier as a person I would have continued to kick her until she cried and I got my point across, but the fact that I felt so bad about kicking her, even though she was initially being abusive, makes me think …
The amount of anger one has to be consumed with in order to act violently is frightening if you consider the brutal acts of violence that happen in our communities every day.
It’s painfully difficult for me to fathom that a human being can be almost entirely consumed by a feeling that one act of violence can affect the lives of many, even millions around them.
A feeling that cannot be classified in any simple terms … just a feeling that stabs us so deeply and creates so much adrenalin that the reaction is instinctively to inflict pain onto another. – Leilah Kirsten, Jazzart trainee
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Faultless opening night performance
The Jazzart company and trainee dancers upped their game again - from dress rehearsal to opening night they drew on a reservoir of energy and strength they probably didn't know they had to produce a premiere that was nothing less than outstanding.
Alfred takes them through a focus exercise before curtain up to concentrate their attention on each other and the performance. They end up in a circle, facing inwards, holding hands while Alfred walks around the outside gently running his hand across their shoulders, connecting them. "Trust what you're doing; believe in it; you've done well," he says.
Alfred instructs them to take their lead for their bows from Chuma , the actress in the role of the protagonist boy child - "Soloists having the most important roles... we don't do that shit," he says. "Take it from Chuma... and you bow... and if you're lucky you'll take another one."
On opening night, they could easily have had a third curtain call. And it's difficult not to single out stellar performances. Chuma slips into her role so naturally it's as though it was made for her. Come to think of it, it probably was. And she looks like a Jazzart dancer in the closing routine!
The mother's solo; the Douglas throughout and especially his pas de deux with Refiloe; the gangsta scene; Shaun; Grant; - all brilliant... gut-wrenching... unforgettable...
Neo's band drives the emotion too; the music penetrates to the core of one's being.
The stark set comes alive with skilled lighting that, as Ina says, makes it look like a movie. "She (Lara) is so clever..." The costumes are simple, earthy and real; the messages exceptionally clear.
It was incredible to see how what was rehearsed in a confined studio space was transformed on stage. The stage was open; there were no wings and people were always visible sitting quietly, walking slowly or moving subtly in the background even if the focus was the action centrestage. The direction required great vision and contributes to what I think is the best production I've seen all year. - Debbie Hathway
Comments from the audience:
"Chuma is so natural she doesn't even look like she's acting."
"Grant looked like a superstar... they all did.
"I loved it."
"It's everything I expect to see in dance theatre."
"I loved the music; I love it when they mix rock with softer stuff."
"The still moments were awesome."
Alfred takes them through a focus exercise before curtain up to concentrate their attention on each other and the performance. They end up in a circle, facing inwards, holding hands while Alfred walks around the outside gently running his hand across their shoulders, connecting them. "Trust what you're doing; believe in it; you've done well," he says.
Alfred instructs them to take their lead for their bows from Chuma , the actress in the role of the protagonist boy child - "Soloists having the most important roles... we don't do that shit," he says. "Take it from Chuma... and you bow... and if you're lucky you'll take another one."
On opening night, they could easily have had a third curtain call. And it's difficult not to single out stellar performances. Chuma slips into her role so naturally it's as though it was made for her. Come to think of it, it probably was. And she looks like a Jazzart dancer in the closing routine!
The mother's solo; the Douglas throughout and especially his pas de deux with Refiloe; the gangsta scene; Shaun; Grant; - all brilliant... gut-wrenching... unforgettable...
Neo's band drives the emotion too; the music penetrates to the core of one's being.
The stark set comes alive with skilled lighting that, as Ina says, makes it look like a movie. "She (Lara) is so clever..." The costumes are simple, earthy and real; the messages exceptionally clear.
It was incredible to see how what was rehearsed in a confined studio space was transformed on stage. The stage was open; there were no wings and people were always visible sitting quietly, walking slowly or moving subtly in the background even if the focus was the action centrestage. The direction required great vision and contributes to what I think is the best production I've seen all year. - Debbie Hathway
Comments from the audience:
"Chuma is so natural she doesn't even look like she's acting."
"Grant looked like a superstar... they all did.
"I loved it."
"It's everything I expect to see in dance theatre."
"I loved the music; I love it when they mix rock with softer stuff."
"The still moments were awesome."
Friday, October 16, 2009
Misunderstanding
The writing his body spoke as he laid there spoke volumes of misunderstanding as he reached at the back of his mouth to find his tongue to explain, to say …
Violence is always looked at through one pair of eyes, the woman’s pair. Men are always seen as the initiators of violence. Men are never the victims, ’cos mos as they say it “boys don’t cry”.
When young boys are molested by their fathers or brothers they have to suck it up and take it like a man, as they say.
How does he find the words?
The words to explain the full event in detail. The words that could help him find the manhood … taken by his blood. − Nkosinathi Sangweni
Violence is always looked at through one pair of eyes, the woman’s pair. Men are always seen as the initiators of violence. Men are never the victims, ’cos mos as they say it “boys don’t cry”.
When young boys are molested by their fathers or brothers they have to suck it up and take it like a man, as they say.
How does he find the words?
The words to explain the full event in detail. The words that could help him find the manhood … taken by his blood. − Nkosinathi Sangweni
Thursday, October 15, 2009
What are you doing to help your child?
“There is a culture of violence in South Africa.” My ears pricked up as I tuned in half way through a Third Degree Plus episode presented by Debora Patta on etv recently.
Violence is a familiar theme on the show. It has featured criminals who become repeat offenders; protests over service delivery in the townships; xenophobic attacks that threaten free trade in the townships; missing and murdered children - the perpetrators are often never found… “A child goes missing every six hours in South Africa. The Western Cape bears the heaviest mantle of shame – it’s where almost half the missing children are from,” states a press release. “Is South Africa failing its children?”
Patta was interviewing a young professor (I didn’t catch his name) who was talking about fractured families … children watching their parents or guardians deal with issues through violence … non-communication … They are also influenced by their peers and the media − violence on TV, in cartoons (Tom & Jerry is a favourite example) and shows like WWF where viewers are warned not to try what they’re doing at home.
He said that bullying among females is increasing right now and to watch out for blue marks or bruises as a sign that a child could be being bullied at school. He encourages parents and teachers to form committees to investigate and stop such incidents but warned that some schools prefer to keep quiet about it. The same goes for people wanting to introduce drug projects at schools – some principals block them because they believe their school does not have a drug problem.
The professor said the constitution protects the child but that parents need to be involved. He said self-esteem was a big thing and a ‘cowboys don’t cry’ culture could hamper progress.
What are you doing to help your child? – Debbie Hathway
Violence is a familiar theme on the show. It has featured criminals who become repeat offenders; protests over service delivery in the townships; xenophobic attacks that threaten free trade in the townships; missing and murdered children - the perpetrators are often never found… “A child goes missing every six hours in South Africa. The Western Cape bears the heaviest mantle of shame – it’s where almost half the missing children are from,” states a press release. “Is South Africa failing its children?”
Patta was interviewing a young professor (I didn’t catch his name) who was talking about fractured families … children watching their parents or guardians deal with issues through violence … non-communication … They are also influenced by their peers and the media − violence on TV, in cartoons (Tom & Jerry is a favourite example) and shows like WWF where viewers are warned not to try what they’re doing at home.
He said that bullying among females is increasing right now and to watch out for blue marks or bruises as a sign that a child could be being bullied at school. He encourages parents and teachers to form committees to investigate and stop such incidents but warned that some schools prefer to keep quiet about it. The same goes for people wanting to introduce drug projects at schools – some principals block them because they believe their school does not have a drug problem.
The professor said the constitution protects the child but that parents need to be involved. He said self-esteem was a big thing and a ‘cowboys don’t cry’ culture could hamper progress.
What are you doing to help your child? – Debbie Hathway
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