Don’t miss Spring-loaded, a contemporary dance fest
Spring-loaded, a collaboration between four leading contemporary dance companies and professional freelancers, will take place at the University of Johannesburg's Con Cowan Theatre, on August 7, 8, 9, 15 and 16.
This inspired collaborative season will bring together Moving into Dance Mophatong (MIDM), Sibikwa Arts Dance Company, The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative (FATC), and Vuyani Dance Theatre (VDT).
Supported in part by Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) and Business Arts South Africa (BASA), the dance companies have decided to pool their collective resources choreographically, creatively and logistically, to present a season of work.
The key vision of the project is to initiate a process of collaborative work between the companies, with a focus on building trust and sustainable working relationships in a largely fractured sector.
The decision to embark on this collaborative season was, in part, due to the difficult financial situations that many dance companies are facing.
Rather than perceiving this with negativity, however, the respective companies endeavoured to turn this situation into an opportunity for dance to triumph and artistic expression to resound.
All dance enthusiasts are invited to join in the celebrations and exciting opportunity to build new and sustainable markets.
Week one will focus on creating a shared space for young artists from each of the companies to present work.
Coinciding with Women’s Day, performances on August 8 and 9 will largely focus on women, women and the arts, and various issues facing women in South Africa.
Week two will culminate in the presentation of a collaborative effort by all companies involved.
During the course of the week, the companies will create a collaborative new work to be presented at the end of the week, on August 15 and 16.
The work being created will be directed by PJ Sabbagha and led by choreographers from each company, including Fana Tshabalala, Sunnyboy Mandla Motau, Shawn Mothupi and Yuhl Headman.
Entitled Spring-loaded, this exciting new creation will reflect on, and speak to, the key issues that underpin the notion of collaboration.
In a wild and exuberant burst of creativity, Spring-loaded will examine the dialogue, trust, honesty and openness needed in order to collaborate successfully in this space.
For further information, contact Thami Makhanya on 011 838 7666, or email her at info@vuyani.co.za.
