Dance society will ‘step up’ at National Arts Festival

A GROUP of local dancers are looking to repeat their award-winning performance at the National Arts Festival (NAF) two years ago. The contingent of north Durban residents will be among the dance troupe going to Grahamstown next month from the South African Society for the Advancement of Dance (SASAD).

SASAD is a KwaZulu-Natal non-profit organisation that has been actively promoting dance in the province for the past five decades. Durban North dance teacher and chairperson of SASAD, Jenny Walter-Girout, says the 30 dancers have been working hard in preparation for their four performances at the NAF.

ALSO READ: uMhlanga lifesavers ‘Rox’ at world games

“The dancers have only had 10 to 12 weeks to practice, which is a comparatively short period of time, but they are responding well to the choreographers and coming along fine,” Walter-Girout said.

The dancers’ age from 10 to 23 and come from a fusion of different dance styles. “That’s why the show is called Mix Motion 2. It is the sequel to Mix Motion performed at Grahamstown in 2015 for which we were awarded the Standard Bank Ovation Award,” said the SASAD chairperson.

ALSO READ: Local dancers excel at competition

Dancers were selected from auditions held in February Walter-Girout said, adding that seven distinguished local dancers and choreographers had created the numbers in the show.

“We’ve been lucky enough to tap into the skill and wisdom of Leagan Peffer, Kristi-Leigh Gresse and Julia Hosmer from the Playhouse Dance Residency, as well as Leigh Meyer, Yolanda Bourman, Gabriel Masango and Lizana Watson,” she said.

ALSO READ: Tafta mourns talented theatrical entertainer’s death

Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter to keep up-to-date with local news or follow us on WhatsApp on 060 532 5532.