Music for everyone at this Year's Grahamstown Arts Festival

	Lira Lira (vocal), Petrus Mngomezulu (keyboard), Kenton Windvogel(guitar), Earl Baartman (bass), Joshua Zacheus (drums) Friday 11 July 19:00
	Themba Mkhize Themba Mkhize (piano), Eric Taliani (guitar), Michael Phillips(bass), Rob Watson (drums), Mbuso Khoza (vocals) Saturday 12 July 12.00
	Adam Glasser Adam Glasser (harmonica - UK), Nduduzo Makhathini (piano), Concord Nkabinde (bass), Tlale Makhene (percussion) Tuesday 8 July 17:00
	Louis Mhlanga Louis Mhlanga (guitar), Sydney Mnisi (sax), Romy Brauteseth(bass), Lloyd Martin (drums) Friday 4 July 21.30 BOOK ONLINE AT WWW.NATIONALARTSFESTIVAL.CO.ZA OR PHONE 0860 002 004

Let your story be told at this year's Drama For Life Festival

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The DFL Sex Actually Festival: Heart to Heart

19th – 30th August 2014

Application Deadline: Monday 9th June 2014

The 2014 Drama for Life Sex Actually Festival engages a multi-dimensional approach to the thematic focus: Human Connection.

This year’s theme aims to interrogate and explore the questions of; what makes us human? How do we relate to each other? What do we learn about ourselves as individuals as well as through our relationships? What boundaries/borders are we aware/unaware of? How, and to what extent, do we celebrate and fully engage all facets of our humanness? What levels and modes of connection amount to intimacy and sensuality? What are our understandings of safety and health in the intimate spaces? How has history and space affected our practice of human connection?

In a dynamic and information-sharing Afropolitan landscape, to what extent are our connections an integral part of our daily practice and human experience? Drama for Life is proud to open the call for applications, inviting all mediums and modes of artistic (health) practice to respond to this year’s theme: Human Connection.

Let’s Connect... Heart to Heart.

APPLY ONLINE FOR FESTIVAL

For All queries please contact festival coordinator Zandile Bekwa Email: Zandile.Bekwa@wits.ac.za
Telephone: 011 717 4731

Music Galore at this year's Grahamstown Arts Festival

	Maria Schneider Conductor: Maria Schneider (US); Sax: Frode Nymo (NO), Børge-Are Halvorsen (NO), Dan Shout, Atle Nymo (NO), Morten Halle(NO), Shannon Mowday; Trumpet: Marius Haltli (NO), Frank Brodahl (NO), Anders Eriksson (NO), Marcus Wyatt; Trombone:Even Kruse Skatrud (NO), Helge Sunde (NO), Erik Johannessen(NO), John Davies; Accordion: Melissa van der Spuy; Guitar: Jens Thoresen (NO), Piano: Olga Konkova (NO); Bass: Frode Berg (NO); Drums: Håkon Mjåset Johansen (NO) Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 July 19:30
	Melanie Scholtz: Our Time Melanie Scholtz (vocals), Justin Bellairs (sax), Lee Thomson(trumpet), Siya Charles (trombone), Bokani Dyer (piano), Shane Cooper (bass), Marlon Witbooi (drums), Jitsvinger (MC/rap) Thursday 3 July 17:00
	Nomfundo Xaluva Nomfundo Xaluva (vocals), Sakhile Simani (trumpet), Nduduzo Makhathini (piano), Romy Brauteseth (bass), Lloyd Martin (drums) Friday 11 & Saturday 12 July 21:30
	Bertil Strandberg Bertil Strandberg (trombone - SE), Buddy Wells (sax), Harmen Fraanje (piano - NE), Hein van de Geyn (bass - NE), Jeff Siegel(drums - US) Saturday 5 July 19:00 BOOK ONLINE AT WWW.NATIONALARTSFESTIVAL.CO.ZA OR PHONE 0860 002 004

A One Night Only performance by the divas of musical theater - “67 Blankets for Madiba Day”

LEADING LADIES OF SA THEATRE DO IT FOR MADIBA!


On 7 April 2014, South Africa’s Leading Ladies of musical theatre will perform together on stage at The Auto and General Theatre on the Square, Sandton for the first time, for a good cause.

The cause is the first official blanket handover for 67 Blankets for Madiba Day – an initiative that aims to collect thousands of handmade blankets which will be distributed to those in need on Nelson Mandela Day (18 July).

The Leading Ladies

Stars performing at the event include Kate Normington, Angela Kilian, Carly Graeme, Ilse Klink, Lindiwe Bungane, opera star Zandile Mzazi, Helen Desbois, Judy Ditchfield, Brenda Sakellarides and acclaimed newcomer Kiruna-Lind Devar, with a special appearance by ten year old Ella Grealy, Carolyn Steyn’s godchild. The MC for the evening is seasoned entertainer, Yebo Gogo funny man and actor, Michael de Pinna who is currently starring in "The Twilight of the Golds" at the Auto and General Theatre on the Square.

The musical theater Divas

King of fashion David Tlale, will dress Carolyn Steyn and all the leading ladies for the evening’s performance.‎

According to Carolyn Steyn, Founder of 67 Blankets for Madiba Day: “Never before have these magnificent ladies performed together on the same stage. It is history in the making and so is 67 Blankets for Madiba Day.

Chet Diepraam, the producer of the spectacular evening concurs: “The opportunity to see all of these stars on one stage is extremely rare. Gems from hit musicals Mama Mia!, Chicago, DreamGirls, Sweet Charity, We Will Rock You, Wicked and more, will delight and thrill the audience. The entrance fee to this event is a hand-made blanket made with love. There is limited seating and RSVP's need to be a addressed to johanv@saxon.co.za.


For more information, please visit the “67 Blankets for Madiba Day” Facebook Page.

Here's an Opportunity for aspiring artists: 2014 ACT Scholarship Awards open for registration

As last year’s winners settle into life at their chosen Universities, a new set of matriculants can start preparing to be put through their pl

aces, and make their dream of becoming a performing artist a reality.

The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT), in partnership with the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO) and Nedbank Arts Affinity, is pleased to once again offer three Performing Arts Scholarships for local aspirant performers.

The ACT | DALRO | Nedbank Performing Arts Scholarships Programme is aimed at Grade 12 learners and individuals younger than 25 years of age who are neither registered for an undergraduate degree nor considered to be a professional performing artist. The programme takes the form of a competition where participants are assessed on their acting, dancing and singing potential and culminates in a final showcase before an independent panel comprising judges the likes of popular artist HHP, producers Hazel Feldman and Richard Loring, television personality Rozanne McKenzie and internationally acclaimed choreographer Gregory Maqoma, that auditioned the final round in the past.

In order to open this opportunity for as many aspirants as possible, this year’s audition circuit will include Nelspruit in addition to their usual stops in Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein. Auditions will take place in June and July.

Since the inception of the programme in 2009, nine scholarships to the value of more than R900,000 have been awarded. Steve Norman won the inaugural Scholarship and went on to study Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Zola Myeza (2010 winner) from KwaZulu-Natal also attended UCT, and is finding her professional feet thanks to support from her agent, sponsor Talent etc. In 2011 two Scholarships were awarded – Nomagugu Gumede from KwaZulu-Natal enrolled at Howard College; and Tankiso Mamabolo from the Eastern Cape is studying Theatre and Performance at UCT.

Chantel Evans and Amanda Kunene each won a R105,000 Scholarship in 2012, and are enrolled at Tswhane University of Technology’s Musical Theatre Department and at Howard College respectively. 2013 Saw three Scholarships awarded – to Naledi Majola from KZN (registered for a BA in Theatre and Performance at UCT), Arlin Bantam from Cape Town (registered for Drama and Theatre Studies at Stellenbosch University) and National School of the Arts pupil Kamogelo Nche (studying Musical Theatre at TUT).

ACT - DARLO - Nedbank Award Finalists 2013

Three scholarships will be awarded in 2014, to the values of R150,000; R105,000 and R60,000; totaling R315,000. The winners will be announced after the Final, hosted by UJ Arts & Culture at the University of Johannesburg on 13 October 2014. Scholarship recipients will be at liberty to select their preferred performing arts course at any accredited South African tertiary institution.

The Scholarships Programme is currently open for registrations until 31 May 2014. For more information or to register for participation please visit www.act.org.za.

Pieter - Dirk Uys is on FIRE this month. Check out this still to come performance

 An Audience with Pieter-Dirk EISH! at the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City

Fifteen cardboard boxes on stage. Each filled with characters and stories. And Pieter-Dirk Uys.
That's all the visual required to make turn his latest show into an evening to be talked about long after the fact. Now in his late sixties, Pieter-Dirk Uys can vividly recall the recent history of South Africa with ease and is probably the most up to date person on current South African politics. He engages his audiences, speaking to the young, the expat, the gay and the gatvol.

"An Audience with Pieter-Dirk EISH" is just that. With the choice of fifteen boxes on stage, a member of the audience chooses a number. Out come characters and entertainment that could be a drama, a comedy, a farce or a shocking expose.

Every box holds a familiar laugh, all truly South African! Uys is on stage sharing a life that reflects the lives of so many of his audience, memorable experiences growing up in South Africa then and now, and doing sketches of various characters and their unique stories, some of them harking back to that dark past; most of them trying to make sense of this crazy future.

Only every night the show and the characters will be different.

An Audience with Pieter – Dirk EISH is on at the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City for two nights only on 28 and 29 March at 8:30pm. Tickets from R120 and are available at Computicket

Pictures taken by Stefan Hurter 

Design label, Black Coffee team up with Vuyani Dance Theatre for a cosmic affair

The catwalk will meet the stage when Vuyani Dance Theatre (VDT) teams up with fashion label Black Coffee for the epic dance work Full Moon, which premieres at the Joburg Theatre on 30 April 2014.
The internationally renowned contemporary dance company, founded by award-winning dancer and choreographer Gregory Maqoma, celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2014 with a lavish contemporary dance production of a scale seldom seen on Johannesburg stages.


Full Moon was conceived and directed by Maqoma with co-choreographer Luyanda Sidiya, VDT’s artistic director. It will feature 25 dancers, the South African National Youth Orchestra (SANYO), original music composed by Isaac Molelekoa and costumes by Black Coffee, gracing the theatre’s main Mandela stage from 30 April to 11 May 2014.
Maqoma explains that his collaboration with the Black Coffee label, headed by designer Jacques van der Watt, goes back as far as 2003, when he created his first solo work, Miss Thandi. Full Moon will be their fifth production working together.
“I like the boldness in their designs, but also I find their designs to be an extension of the themes of each piece,” he says. “Also, their attention to detail is remarkable and always surprising and challenging conceptually. The marriage of fashion with movement brings something new to the arts.”

Back row Lulu Mlangeni Front row L to R Kalima Mipata, Peter Lenso, Xolisile Bongwana Photo by Marijke Willems by Costume Black Coffee

Van der Watt believes that Black Coffee’s long-standing relationship with Vuyani makes the design process very easy for everyone involved. “We know how far we need it to be pushed visually and we can work together very intuitively because it is very easy to gauge expectations,” he says.
“Before designing the costumes, I like to watch the dancers rehearse. This gives me a very clear vision of the movement and what is needed from the costumes. At times we use very dramatic shapes to create high impact, but some of the choreography calls for almost quiet costumes to allow the bodies to shine and speak for themselves.”

Now that the choreography and concepts are coming together for the final work, Maqoma is already in awe at the textures, colours and ideas that Black Coffee is bringing to the table, tying in with the production’s themes of purity, distortion, hope and loss, dark and light, myth and the unknown.
“Costumes are an integral part of a performance,” explains Maqoma. “They define the character and bring the theme to life, so it is an important element that requires a designer who has a clear understanding of movement and theatre – and I do find that comfort in Black Coffee, as they are always about pushing the envelope.”

Keaoleboga Seodigeng Photo by MarijkeW illems -Costume by Black Coffee

Full Moon is a dance odyssey that is set to take the audience on a stirring, surreal journey from outer space to the landscapes of Earth, drawing on ancestral memories and myths. The production is set against the backdrop of Molelekoa’s original score, performed by the SANYO.


Book for Full Moon through www.joburgtheatre.com, or call 0861 670 670.
For more information, visit www.vuyani.co.za or check out Vuyani Dance Theatre (http://www.facebook.com/VuyaniDanceTheatre) on Facebook or @VuyaniTheatre (https://twitter.com/VuyaniTheatre) on Twitter.

If You're Keen For a Good Laugh this Weekend, Check Out this Show : "50 Shades of Bambi"

50 Shades of Bambi at the Auto and General Theatre in Sandton Square

The Auto & General Theatre on the Square presents Pieter Dirk Uys, well known as Tannie Evita in her new cabaret "50 SHADES OF BAMBI". This premiere event in Gauteng shows her at her best, not just as an extra ordinary entertainer, but also fearless, frank and fabulous. With songs and anecdotes reflecting her life and times and guided by Godfrey Johnson at the piano, Bambi shows how to put a square peg into a round hole.

Bambi Kellerman 

Bambi Kellermann is Evita Bezuidenhout’s younger sister. She is the chalk to Tannie’s cheese. Stripper, sex worker and grande horizontal who graduated from the University of Sex Cum Laude – and Fleur de Cap Winner 2010 for Best Cabaret, Bambi is in Johannesburg for the first time in ten years in the Gauteng world premiere of “FIFTY SHADES OF BAMBI”, her new fabulous onslaught against the prudish, the improper and the pathetic.

“50 Shades of Grey” was focused on one specific colour of behaviour. Bambi’s new cabaret includes a rainbow selection of other choices. It is also her journey from teenage confusions, through youthful experimentation, into middle-aged compromise to her twilight-year common sense about life, love, laughter and lies. It’s not just about sex; it’s about enjoying what comes naturally. And if it’s not natural, be careful.

Pieter-Dirk Uys presents: “50 SHADES OF BAMBI” with musical direction by Godfrey Johnson at the piano, while Bambi takes a raunchy ride to the other side of daily life: putting a square peg into a round hole through relationships, trust, happiness, hope, love and fidelity. Sex is the full-frontal focus, with words, music, toys and tinsel. Recommended to anyone who believes in freedom of expression and the right to choose what is best for them when the lights are low – all presented with the wisdom of experience, humour of recall and songs that remind and remain.

Bambi Kellerman 

50 Shades of Bambi is showing at The Auto & General Theatre on the Square till the 16 of March 2014: Every Tues - Fri 20h15; Sat 17h00 and 20h30; Sundays at 15h00.

Tickets are R150:00 and available at the theatre or at www.strictlytickets.co.za

A Chance for a Break as a Performer

Several Bursaries announced
for professional dancers, choreographers, movement specialists

Every year starts with fresh opportunities and plenty of chances to try over again. Here's one of those opportunities you must check out, its a performing arts scholarship. Try yourself out and go for their auditions, you'll never know which door holds your big break. 



Target audience:

Dancers, choreographers, physical theatre actors, contemporary circus performers and movers with professional stage experience working in various genres and techniques from different countries.


The programme includes intensive practical training and discussions guided by the Russian theatre director and teacher. Participants will research the connection between physical action and voice, gesture, movement, dance and word, explore performer's physicality as the key to form, style, atmosphere and emotional palette, learn to build up the composition of the form and the artistic space of the performance, gain helpful practical tools and valuable tips for mounting a contemporary physical theatre performance stepping beyond the limits of text-based acting, acquire a reliable practical toolkit for creating contemporary professional productions in limited rehearsal time.

To receive information about the detailed programme, application process and bursaries,
please contact: theaterlaboratory@yahoo.co.uk

WOMEN IN DANCE AND MUSIC CARNIVAL 2011

Stand by for an enormous collaboration of women, as they work out their talents in a super-energetic explosion of music and movement that celebrates the female variation of our species!

Sibikwa Arts Centre, as part of their Seriti sa Basadi (Dignity of Women) Festival 2011, has provided a vital platform for women of all ages to express themselves through music, song and dance – and, in so doing, to bridge the generation gap via the joy of performance.

A vibrant cross-section of community dance groups have committed to appearing in this exhaustive day of celebration. In the afternoon, Ladies in Jazz will lay down some irresistible rhythms, and they will be joined by two giant female puppets – courtesy of The Giant Match. If these towering temptresses, along with the day’s performers – don’t get you swaying, nothing will!

Celebrity appearance
We’re happy to confirm that Lira will be making an appearance in the afternoon – so have your cameras ready , as you may be lucky enough to have your celebrity snap taken with the Afro soul queen herself.

Day of joyous indulgence
Enjoy the music and dance – and maybe even indulge in the rejuvenating luxury of a hand massage or Indian head massage. Whatever your mode of hanging loose, be sure not to miss out on this jamboree outpouring of fun and pleasure.

Hare-e-eng ‘Friends of Sibikwa’ MembershipSibikwa officially launched its membership drive through the ‘Ha-re-eng ‘Friends of Sibikwa’ Membership Card. The card, which one can obtain for R30 entitles the member to generous discounts on all Sibikwa Arts Centre shows and festivals which include a R10 discount on every ticket the holder buys. In addition, the card entitles the holder to bring in three friends to any Sibikwa Arts Centre show, event or festival to also receive a R10 discount per every ticket they buy. If it’s the holder’s birthday, he or she qualifies for a free show upon production of valid proof such as ID or passport.

Women in Dance & Music Carnival

VENUE:            Sibikwa Arts Centre in 13 Liverpool Park (cnr Bolton), Benoni
DATES:             Sunday August 14th     
TIMES:             10am – 4pm
TICKETS:         R20 to enjoy the day’s happenings.     
                         R30 for admission to Ladies in Jazz [Bring your own booze]

For further information, call Tonderai on 011 422 2132 or e-mail tonderai@sibikwa.co.za

RECOGNITION OF SOUTH AFRICAN ART

The due date for ImpACT Awards nominations closes this coming Friday, so please pass this on to anyone who is in the arts and might be worth a nomination.

The due date for nominations for the ImpACT Awards for Young Professionals, which will be presented at the 14th annual ACT Awards, is this coming Friday, the 29th. Artists up to the age of 30 years that fall within the first three years of their professional careers are eligible for nomination.

“The encouragement and acknowledgement of excellence is of utmost importance to the future of South African creativity. ACT, which is the Arts and Culture Trust,  is grateful to the Distell Foundation for sponsoring the ImpACT Awards for Young Professionals and we value the opportunity to support emerging artists and enhance excellence in the sector,” says Pieter Jacobs, General Manager of ACT.

Emerging artists at a time in their careers when they have shown commitment to and reached some professional standing in their chosen discipline may be nominated in one of four categories:

- Visual Art (Painting and Printmaking, Sculpting, Public Installations & Photography)
- Performing Arts (Dance, Acting, Musical Theatre & Physical Theatre)
- Music & Singing (Classical, Contemporary & Jazz)
- Design (Craft, Graphic Design, Fashion Design & Web Design)

Winners of the ImpACT Awards are selected by an independent panel of judges. Awards will only be presented if a satisfactory number of quality nominations are received in the various categories and the adjudication panel reserves the right to carry over such awards to the following year.

The closing date for nominations is 29 July 2011. For guidelines and nomination forms please visit the ACT website at www.act.org.za.

BURN THE FLOOR with MAGICAL DANCING FEET at The Joburg Theatre

As a young South African theatre and arts writer, I’ve NEVER had such a breathtaking theatrical experience. 

Its one of those experiences that; one would go, “One day I would love to check this out in New York”, or anywhere else in the world”. So when I heard that, The Joburg Theatre was bringing BURN THE FLOOR to the Mandela stage, I could not stop checking my calendar and anxiously wait for the opening night.

And last night was finally the time I’ve been going on and on about, on my twitter account, facebook, BBM and any other social network known to man.

BURN THE FLOOR is the show most dance lovers would associate with the likes of So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars, Step it Up and Dance and other dance work phenomenon most of us watch on YouTube. The show is under the direction and choreography of Jason Gilkison, most of you might know as one of the guest choreographers for So You Think You can Dance, America and for the most recent Step Up 3D, the movie.

 It’s a reinvention of ballroom with a twist of magical dancing feet. The energy is enough to leave you sitting at the edge of your seat as the dancers make you feel like you’re watching a dance movie with all the dance moves on fast-forward. The dances vary from Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, the Viennese Waltz, Tango to a gripping passionate scene of the Paso Doble. 

 If you thought you’ve seen fast moving dancing feet from the Pansula dance, you’re eyes will stop blinking as you watch the speed entailed from this show. The choreography features a magnificent combination of pure ballroom technique, velocity, liveliness and most importantly, the entertainment factor. 

 Most dancers often forget to “perform” and end up putting focus more on the routines, choreography and director’s notes, forgetting the essence of adding their own flavor, spirit and passion which in turn, enables the viewer to bring about the same atmosphere towards a performance.

I’ve seen many dance shows and have also seen dancers fall down and tremble upon reaching a trance phase while performing. With BURN THE FLOOR, you’d swear the dancers are ALL possessed and attacked by some spiritual sensation which enables them to literally burn the floor more and more as the music plays. 

As an audience, you can factually see their feet rambling, the heads banging, the bodies shifting from one step to the other and the delight thereof from their faces, as though dancing is the only language they know to speak. 

I would actually encourage all theatre and dance lovers, especially dancers and choreographers to make a date for this show, as I believe it will change the way they look at dancing and they’ll be sure to learn the recipe of quality dancing as an art.

BURN THE FLOOR will run till August 14^th, shows are Tues – Frid at 8pm, Saturday at 3pm and 8pm and Sundays at 2pm and 5:30pm. Tickets are priced from R195 and are on sale on http://www.joburgtheatre.com/ or by purchasing a “print at home” ticket online or alternatively calling the theatre on 0861 670 670 and for group bookings, one can call 011 877 6853.


Let me know of your views and opinions by dropping your comment and let’s chat as to how South African theatre can one day produce such magic.

Desperate First Ladies returns to Gold Reef's Lyric Theatre

This singular and always-glamorous grande dame will be holding forth alongside occasional collaborator Pieter-Dirk Uys and a number of special guests in the side-splitting comedy show Desperate First Ladies, which returns to Gold Reef City’s Lyric Theatre over – you guessed it – the weekend preceding Women’s Day, from 5 to 7 August 2011.

Tannie Evita will be chatting to a different prominent South African woman at each performance in a manner that promises to peel away their layers to reveal the humanity (we hope) and humour (we pray) behind our country’s power-poppies.

Sitting in the hot seat with Evita at the various performances are: 702 Talk Radio presenter and regular marathon runner Redi Tlhabi (née Direko) on Friday, 5 August; DA party spokesperson and shadow minister of rural development and land reform Lindiwe Mazibuko on Saturday, 6 August; and Sindy Mabe, who is the anchor of e.tv’s Sunrise breakfast show and an avid book lover, on Sunday, 7 August.
Evita is South Africa’s most famous white woman – yes, even more so than Helen Zille and Amor Vittone – and is the consummate political survivor and opportunist, having ditched the Nats to become chef to the current ruling elite.

In Desperate First Ladies, Evita will also graciously share the stage with a chorus line of other outspoken and iconic women from all walks of life, including Cape Malay DA firebrand Mrs Petersen, rof bergie Wilhelmina Opklim, and the (maybe) former first lady of Libya, Madame Gaddafi. Oh, and look out for guest appearances by the likes of Mother Teresa, who is manning the telephone exchange in heaven while Marilyn Monroe and the other angels are on strike!

Don’t miss Desperate First Ladies, a series of uproarious satirical sketches designed to celebrate Women’s Day in fabulously glamorous style, at the Lyric Theatre this August. Performances take place at 20:30 from 5 to 7 August. Tickets are priced at R150.00. Book through Computicket or the Lyric Theatre box-office on 011 248 0000. Log onto www.goldreefcity.co.za or follow @GoldReefCitySA on Twitter to keep up with Gold Reef City news and events.

BURN THE FLOOR sets the stage on fire @ the Joburg Theatre

Joburg Theatre is proud to announce the exclusive visit to South Africa of the world’s most popular dance show BURN THE FLOOR – on The Mandela stage and for a limited season only from 14th July until 14th August 2011.

BURN THE FLOOR is the show that revolutionised the image of dance, which then launched the many reality dance shows, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, DANCING WITH THE STARS, SUPERSTARS OF DANCE, to name but a few, that audiences have grown to love.



With the creativity of world-famous ballroom choreographer Jason Gilkison, BURN THE FLOOR takes ballroom to a whole new level.  Gilkison’s unique choreography combines the classic ballroom styles with a modern flare. “I wanted people to see that ballroom has come of age again,” says Gilkison. “This is a new interpretation of what this generation is doing with ballroom and how they’re experiencing those dances.”
Gilkison is currently choreographing the new STEP UP 3D movie

BURN THE FLOOR performances begin in The Mandela on Thursday July 14th 2011 and the limited season must close on Sunday August 14th 2011.

Tickets are priced from R195 and are on sale now exclusively by visiting www.joburgtheatre.com and purchasing your print-at-home ticket on the internet, or by calling the theatre’s new direct ticketing line on 0861 670 670.

The National Arts Festival with the support of the French Institute of South Africa,
the Embassy of France in South Africa and the Institut Français
proudly present

FRANÇOIS SARHAN
at the National Arts Festival
in a unique double bill
Telegrams from the Nose & Lectures of Professor Glaçon
9 July 2011 at 7pm & 10 July 2011 at 3pm
at the Great Hall

Lectures of Professor Glaçon – Photo © Hannah Paton  

Last April, French composer and artist François Sarhan drew his audience into the creative world of the eccentric Professor Henry Jacques Glaçon with a series of thought-provoking and witty events, ranging from exhibitions to music and books, via musical performances with world-renowned Portuguese percussion band, Drumming Grupo de Percussão.

The French artist will be back in South Africa to perform for the first time Telegrams from the Nose, the result of his artistic collaboration with South African visual artist William Kentridge, presented at the National Arts Festival as part of a double bill including the Lectures of Professor Glaçon.

In the multimedia project mixing Sarhan’s original score with Kentridge’s video, the backdrop is a large canvas painted by Kentridge on which are screened Telegrams from the Nose, a video consisting of a stylish combination of anamorphosed human shadows, small black animated silhouettes in cut-out paper, geometrical shapes evoking Russian constructivism, letters in movement and text. In phase with Kentridge's images, the music of "Telegrams" scrolls through a series of hurried, scratched out, dislocated "Shostakovian vignettes". It is a work of memory and allusion, without any direct quotations.

Telegrams from the Nose – Photo © John Hodgkiss

 As always with Sarhan, it is the text (the spoken voice) that carries him away: here the composer pursues his quest for a modern melodrama. A lyrical narration, like a voice sample imported directly from everyday life (or an archive or old film), is used as the guiding thread, harvesting instrumental events.

N.B. For those who will miss the performances of Telegrams from the Nose & Lectures of Professor Glaçon at the National Arts Festival, there will be another chance to watch this double bill at the Market Theatre from 8 to 10 September 2011 within the framework of the Refuse the Hour season. 



ANGUS TAYLOR and RINA STUTZER

ANGUS TAYLOR and RINA STUTZER
6 – 27 July 2011
UJ Art Gallery
Free!

Angus Taylor and Rina Stutzer primarily deconstruct postmodern concerns and delve into aspects of this philosophy in the quest for elusive answers to complex questions. They furthermore do it in an aesthetically pleasing and highly professional manner. Taylor’s work focuses broadly on the human condition. He specifically addresses the simultaneous occurrence of order/disorder and continuity/discontinuity in three-dimensional language and through dialogue between method and matter, found and modelled objects by for instance combining cast stainless steel and red earth. He has developed significantly since an experimental exhibition at the UJ Art Gallery in 2006 and is presently considered one of the foremost sculptors in the country.

His marriage to fellow artist Rina Stutzer brought an interesting collaboration between the two about: her work explores changing habitats with the human as hybrid occupant through painting with patina on metal surfaces, thus ensuring a constantly changing surface. The two artists intersect successfully through the combination of sculptural and painterly mediums and methods. With lecture and walkabout.

The Imperial Ice Stars - World Premiere of The Nutcracker on Ice - at the Teatro at Montecasino in December!

ICE DANCE SENSATION RETURNS TO SOUTH AFRICA WITH CHRISTMAS FAVOURITE!

The international ice dance sensation The Imperial Ice Stars make a triumphant return to South Africa this summer with the World Premiere of their dazzling new production of The Nutcracker on Ice.

The Nutcracker on Ice will open at the Teatro at Montecasino in Johannesburg on 8 December 2011 for a limited season (till 15 Jan only), before moving to Cape Town’s Artscape Theatre (19 Jan to 11 Feb).

This award-winning troupe has built up a worldwide following and established an unrivalled reputation for their sophisticated portrayals of classic works, and for executing the most complex and daring manoeuvres on the ice.  Their previous world tours (Sleeping Beauty on Ice, Swan Lake on Ice and Cinderella on Ice) have been greeted with nightly standing ovations and five-star reviews.
 
In the summer of 2009/2010 more than 125,000 South Africans saw The Imperial Ice Stars’ production of Cinderella on Ice. 

The Nutcracker on Ice will thrill and enchant all ages.   Tickets go on sale from 28 June and are available at all Computicket outlets, online at www.computicket.com or through the Call Centre on (011) 340 8000.

Performances: Tuesday – Friday @ 7:30pm, Saturday @ 2:30pm & 7:30pm, Sunday @ 2:30pm & 6pm. (Please note that the performance schedule changes slightly over the Christmas and New Year dates with extra holiday matinees added. Please check Computicket for a complete list of all the performances available).

Vuyani Dance Theatre, celebrating more than a decade of sustainability presents its revamped Four Seasons.

Gregory Vuyani Maqoma, one of South Africa's leading choreographers is presenting his ‘revamped’ 2010 work, Four Seasons, at the Dance Factory, Newtown Johannesburg from 5 to 8 May, 2011.

This return season of Four Seasons is in celebration of VDT’s many years of proud sustainability and has been made possible by funding from The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF). This funding has been allocated for a three year period and has enabled VDT to grow its management team. The team, together with a new Board and patrons, Judge Edwin Cameron, Advocate Pinky Mokgatla and Consular Paul Mees, is a blend that bodes well for the company in the years ahead.

The limited season opens with a red-carpet, Black-Tie/Green-Tie event celebrating VDT’s more than a decade of sustainability in regards to good governance, on Thursday 5 May 2011.  It will be hosted by VDT’s patron Judge Edwin Cameron and invited guests will comprise media, Citigreen companies, corporate companies, and government organisations.

Four Seasons, fresh from a successful run at KKNK, features the full company of eight dancers: Thabo Kobeli, Teresia Mojela and Shawn Mothupi (from the original cast), Sibusiso Ngcobo, Thulani Chauke, Phumlani Nyanga, Nosiphiwo Samente and Charlston van Rooyen. 

Four Seasons is at the Dance Factory, Newtown Johannesburg for a very limited season: four performances only, Thursday 5 May – Gala evening (by invitation only), Friday 6 and Saturday 7 May at 8pm and Sunday 8 May at 2.30pm. Booking is at Computicket.  Tickets are R90.  Students / Pensioners / block bookings (10+) - R40.

Four Seasons is funded by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund and is further supported by Business & Arts South Africa (BASA) and Breinstorm Brand Architects; also Nedbank Arts Affinity and The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT).

For more information about Vuyani Dance Theatre call 011 838 7666 or visit the VDT website atwww.vuyani.co.za

Pre Human Right's Day Party for FREE!! @ Liquid Chefs, Rosebank

Lets raise our glasses, as we toast to our rights this

Human Rights Day
with Rhythm100Radio
with a 6hour jam packed show of #HomoNoHomo and The Recovery
featuring
Mika Stefano, Saz, DJ Cosmo and Lehasa Moloi.

Sunday 20th March
17:00 - 23:00
@ Liquid Chefs, Rosebank, Johannesburg

Come early for Cocktail specials...
A percentage of drinks will go to HURISA (Human Rights Institute of South Africa)

Twins on Decks, DJ Voodoo, Biz, Shluda, DJ Cosmo and Saz will be in the mix...

Come on time and look at the new Flud Watch range...
They will be available at discounted prices...

Also stand a chance in winning tickets to Dreamgirls South Africa and the Channel O Sessions with Slikour and TKZee

If you cant make it, feel free to tune in on http://www.rhythm100radio.co.za/
or on www.r100.mobi on your BB

Did I mention its free...
#NoCoverCharge...

Invite, courtesy of Mika Stefano. For more information visit www.mikastefano.com

JENNIFER HUDSON'S dual ESSENCE covers!