Represent Review: So you think you can Dance
Sep30

Represent Review: So you think you can Dance

We’re delighted that some of Represent’s fabulara dancer friends: David Matamela, Thabiso, Megan and Elizma are all getting their go on telly, it’s about time these tireless hard-slogging dancers got a glamourous platform to shake their booties, it’s a nice change from the bread-and-butter corporate work they have to do, although they do it so superbly.  So… The Matrix was on TV!! Yes, yours truly and the legendary Agent Katz have been mingling with the visual media people again… See Agent Katz’s photostory of the night as well as lots of close-up backstage pics here, and read all about the live TV event below: Saturday 27 September 2008, The Standardbank Arena – Ellis Park Sports Precinct. Many a follower and busloads of family and friendly supporters turned out in their droves for the live, SABC 1 broadcast of the riveting Teen pop-culture dance competition: So You Think You Can Dance. There’s just something awesome about attending a live event, for starters, while the repertoire of choreographic work is kept at bear-minimum levels, the adrenaline rush in the live environment  is forever pumping, ensuring that you miss none of the breath- taking content. This being a family and teens targeted programme, the event coordinator found himself with a mammoth of a task at hand – painstakingly trying to regulate the loud screams and vibrant young energies transcending into the arena (p.s we were trained like Seals in a series of very important drills: when to scream, shout, clap and boo… I wonder if they purposefully ignored training us on how to spot the cue for when to shed a tear at some of the beautiful and emotion-evoking scenes, captivatingly portrayed live on the expansive and well designed stage). Like in other true pop-culture show which has managed to survive the long and treacherous transatlantic journey to land on our ‘color tubes’, a team of villains posing as ‘Duke and his Duchess’ style personalities made-up the expert panel of Judges…Such a snooty bunch this lot!! Professional Choreographer: David Matsamela, Professional Choreographer: Ms Didi Moses, Professional and International Choreographer: Harold van Buuren. AND NOW THE PERFORMING ARTS… Those of us who grew up with square eyes from being glued to the indoor square box would surely confess to loving YO-TV (The former version with the Dodo costumed dude who famously exclaimed: Ma’ Cousins!!!) , for many of us the sole purpose of watching was to feed our secret affection of the super-styling babe:  Sade! Well, I can confess that she’s still as fly and confident as ever!  Iyoh, Iyoh, Iyoh!!!! The 14 amazingly talented contestants with elastic-like flexibility were grouped in pairs...

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First Wednesday Film Club next week
Sep25

First Wednesday Film Club next week

If you love film and you still haven’t been to the First Wednesday film club (we’ve been talking about it since 2005) it’s not too late, as it’s the first of October next week and a Wednesday, so roll up to this legendary cinematic gathering: A Winter Tale, 1st OCTOBER, 7:30pm, STUDIO 4, Atlas Studios,Milpark, Johannesburg. A Winter Tale is set against the backdrop of a multicultural community’s unrealized hopes and dreams. Bitter and tragic, funny and hopeful, the film tells a uniquely Canadian story that features Toronto as a central character. International Awards2007 Tonya Lee Williams Award for Outstanding Canadian Feature Reel World Film Festival 2007 Special Mention/Outstanding Screenplay Category Reel World Film Festival 2007 Audience Award Best Feature T&T Film Festival 2008 Best Foreign Film San Diego Black Film Festival 2008 Remi Award – Best Editing Worldfest Houston Int Film Festival 2008 Award for Best Editor Zuma Film Festival 2008 Award for Best Cinematographer Zuma Film Festival 2008 Ousmane Sembene Award for Best Foreign Film Zuma Film Festival 2008  Award for Best Film Festival of Black International Cinema...

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Off the Shelf on the Rooftop of Jozi
Sep21

Off the Shelf on the Rooftop of Jozi

The crew from Coal Stove films will be having another filmfilled night in the city of Jozi at the mind-blowing Intermission space at the Private Practice venue in Bree street on the last Sunday in September. Four local SA short films will be shown – the film makers will all be on hand for questions afterwards. Get amongst! Map and more info below: SUNDAY, 28th SEPTEMBER. 6.00 PM for 6.30 PM AT PRIVATE PRACTICE NO. 195 JEPPE STREET (ENTRANCE ON BREE…See map below for directions) Featuring: “DE LA REY “, a documentary by Panayota Athanasiou on the controversial popular Afrikaans song of the same name. “UBOMI”. A community’s struggle against crime and child abduction leads them to startling self-realization. By Themba Oliphant. “DAY 7596” by Xolelwa Nhlobatsi and Carl S. Nkosi. Three best friends in their twenties are startled out of the humdrum of Coaltheir ordinary lives when one of them is tragically murdered. “ACE OF HEARTS ” by Andrew Macdonald. When a serial killer turns on the cop who is out to get him, a gripping cat and mouse chase ensues. FOLLOWED BY A Q&A WITH THE FILMMAKERS IN ATTENDANCE. ENTRY R20 For more information: Call: 011 836 8911 Email Visit Coalstove. Click below for the...

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Support South African Crafters in Newtown
Sep21

Support South African Crafters in Newtown

We always feel *happy* after a Saturday in the sun in Newtown, downtown Joburg city, with all the wonderful eating spots available, the theatre, the shops, the vibe is well worth a visit: A great way to celebrate Spring and the city is to head down to The Zasekhaya Market, which takes place on Mary Fitzgerald Square, Newtown on Saturday 27 September from 10am. The market sets itself apart as the crafters and artists that sell at the Zasekhaya Market offer trendy and cutting edge products that range from jewellery, shoes, bags, felt animals, mirrors, accessories, clothing and visual arts. The crafters are some of the top artists in the countries and often their products are exclusive and one offs. It’s a great outing for a Saturday, safe and secure parking is available on the square and there are many restaurants nearby to provide...

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Represent Review: Road to V Launch party
Sep19

Represent Review: Road to V Launch party

Short, and oh so sweet, that’s the tone that was set at the launch party for the first ever Road to V festival thats taking place in December in South Africa. We’re hoping the heat may still be turned up artist-wise, ‘coz ever since Snoop stood us up at his Joburg concert, we’ve been sulking. He’s cool, but he’s come and gone and we think there’s fresher, edgier artists than Snoop and Maroon 5 for a brand like V. Anyway, let’s see what happens, we’re sure the party will rock either way, as every summer party does. They’re looking for South African bands for the mix – our team Reuben ‘The Matrix’ Malema tells us what you need to do to enter below, as well as what went down at the launch, and photographer Nkateko Siweya shares a photostory of the party with us here : Wednesday night, Melville – Johannesburg. The Brits are here in full force! Well, that’s my view of Sir Richard Branson’s Empire: The Virgin Group. In this case a division of it which resides in leafy Sandton called: Virgin Mobile. This year the Virgin conquest has its eyes firmly set on ZA. A kick-butt and cash flush team made up of Sony Ericsson, Edgars Music Series, MTV and of course, Virgin Mobile will be granting a selected few South African bands (music groups) a chance to share a huge blingin’ stage with Snoop Dogg at the (already UK and USA staged as V Festival) Road to V World Music Concert  in Johannesburg on 15th December 2008. The Catch The prospective band/s must upload an MP3 of their well made track on the Virgin mobile website  for the scrutiny of the good people at Virgin. Yes, it’s that easy and yes it’s that difficult  too, because chances are you may be amongst the selected few and chances are you might not make it at all – but then again if you do not try you may never know, right? So, go right ahead and be a good sport! Take the chance! And what a chance… The biggest prize of all is a guaranteed opportunity to perform at a sequel of the event with some of the world’s greatest musicians in the United Kingdom and the United States of America in 2009. This thrilling opportunity for South African bands to crack the extremely competitive international market was announced by Nicholas Maweni – Head of Corporate Affairs at Virgin Mobile South Africa on the night. A lot of nice to know stuff was also shared, we were blessed with good music from Jozi, KoldProduk, Cassette, Zebra &...

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