Dancers gear up for Jomba! 2014 at Sneddon

THE 16th annual Jomba! Contemporary Dance Experience will run  until 7 September at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. There will be one performance at artSpace (Durban) on 4 September. This year Jomba! gives support and offers recognition to five of South Africa’s most awarded dance companies with a special invites to Vuyani Dance Theatre (JHB), Moving Into Dance Mophatong (JHB), Flatfoot Dance Company (DBN), First Physical Theatre Company (Grahamstown) and the Floating Outfit Project (DBN).

The festival opens with Vuyani Dance Theatre offering two works; Beautiful Us created by Gregory Maqoma and Dominion choreographed by Luyanda Sidiya. Also featured is Durban’s inimitable Flatfoot Dance Company with Lliane Loots and her six Flatfoot dancers who will present a soulful and deeply personal collaboration with the musical genius of Durban’s singer/songwriter Shannon Hope.

Moving Into Dance Mopathong, break new ground at Jomba! 2014 with a collaborative dance theatre work between Sonia Radebe and Canadian choreographer Jennifer Dallas from Kemi Contemporary Dance Projects in Toronto.

First Psychical Theatre come to Jomba! 2014 with an especially created programme of three works with an all-female company. Finally, Jomba! continues its relationship with artSpace (Durban) Gallery where they host Durban’s Boyzie Cekwana and his Floating Outfit Project. This year Jomba! begins a special long term residency programme that began in June 2014. Hosted and facilitated by Boyzie Cekwana, Dialogues Africa invited KZN based choreographers to apply to participate. Over a series of interviews and rigorous meetings, eight dancer makers were selected. The residency is an on-going attempt to reboot and reload the space for thought, movement, dance making and ultimately, dialogue(s) towards the growth and survival of critical South African dance makers.

The 2014 residency culminates on the last night of the festival (7 September) where audiences will be treated to a glimpse into working process and some of the dance making that has been generated. For those who are interested in watching the final week of the residency unfold, artSpace (Durban) will be hosting the final working week and audiences are encouraged (free of charge) to pop in over lunch time (1 – 2pm) to see what is unfolding from 2 to 6 September.

Jomba! hosts its usual platforms of the Fringe (Monday 1 September) and the Youth Fringe (Saturday 31 August ). With over 40 entries for a coveted place in this year’s Jomba! Fringe, the selection of only 10 works was a difficult task but means that the final selection offers a standard of dance theatre that is growing. The Jomba! Youth Fringe takes place at the UKZN Open Air Theatre (entrance is free).

Tickets are R60 for adults and R45 for scholars, students and pensioners, and booking is through Computicket. Jomba! Contemporary Dance Experience is organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN) with support from the eThekwini Municipality.