Dance theatre launched at Emakhazeni

MBOMBELA- The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative (FATC) celebrated its 20th anniversary with the establishment of a new dance centre in the Emakhazeni Valley called Ebhudlweni.

The centre was officially opened on October 24. “It aims to become a vital, unique and vibrant hub within the South African and international dance landscape that is dedicated to excellence in the artistic research, practice and production,” explained Bridget van Oerle, the theatre’s publicity manager.

She adds that centre will improve access to arts education and arts practice as well as social transformation and the upliftment of rural communities.

“The ethos driving the development of the dance centre echoes the pay-off line of the province in which it is based, that being: “Mpumalanga, a pioneering spirit,” added Van Oerle.
She said that the decision to relocate FATC’s operations to the rural area of Emakhazeni emerged as an innovative response to the challenges facing Arts organizations in the current socio-economic context as well as the desire to make a meaningful impact on under-resourced communities in rural South Africa.

Through the initiation of a range of programmes and activities based at the Centre, FATC works towards forging new solutions to these challenges but has also significantly contribute towards the upliftment of the immediate rural community.

The event was also marked with the visit to the Belfast Children’s Home where attendees witnessed the transformative power of dance practice which was followed by presentations of new works developed and created by various outreach groups and artists currently in residence.
The group’s weekly activities at the centre will includes outreach programs targeting to reach between 250 and 400 children and the youth.