Dada Masilo’s CARMEN in JHB in September
WOW, sounds like the South African Dance scene finally got it’s groove on, thanks to the groundbreaking work of the edgy young choreographer/Director Dada Masilo that’s filling up theatre seats – Go Go Go and support this new wave of dance this month: Thanks to support from the City of Johannesburg, local audiences will get to see the latest dance/theatre work by 24 year-old trailblazer, Dada Masilo. Her CARMEN, which dazzled audiences at the recent National Arts Festival, will be staged at The Dance Factory from September 10th to 13th, as part of the Arts Alive International Festival. During the past few years, Masilo has made a name for herself both as a dancer and as a choreographer. Trained in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Brussels, Masilo is a Contemporary dancer, who has a deep love for the classics – from Shakespeare to Tchaikovsky, from Ballet to Flamenco. As a dancer, she has impressed with her `signature speed` – the ability to move like greased lightening; and also to imbue her roles with a precocious theatricality. As choreographer, she has been amazingly daring, tackling the `big’ stories and boldly fusing dance techniques; musically, mixing the original scores with twentieth century composers and performers. In 2008, Masilo was the recipient of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance. For that National Arts Festival, she created a ROMEO AND JULIET, based closely on Shakespeare’s text – but reflecting the youth of the title characters in her use of Bach and Vivaldi, performed by Vanessa Mae and Nigel Kennedy. The work drew large critical and audience support and was restaged for the Arts Alive International Festival 2008, where it failed to disappoint. In October, it goes to the Baxter Theatre Centre in Cape Town. CARMEN posed an even bigger challenge. Masilo says: I began with the idea of unraveling Carmen the woman – to search beneath the surface presented in the ballets and operas – to find the vulnerability beneath the cold, heartless exterior. In the process of research, there was so much to unravel: I searched for Bizet and found Shchedrin, I discovered many existing narratives. Ultimately, I have created a narrative which allows me and the dancers to do what we love most – to dance. The first phase of CARMEN, was UNRAVELLING CARMEN a thirty-minute work commissioned by the FNB Dance Umbrella with additional support from the National Arts Council. This work, for seven dancers, premiered last March. Adrienne Sichel in The Star wrote: Not unexpectedly, Dada Masilo’s commissioned Unraveling Carmen…goes for the artistic jugular.The white floor transforms not into a bullring, but a red rose-spattered arena of sex,...
K’Naan LIVE in JHB
Not only do we have two *esteemed* Joburg-based MC’s heading up this gig – Tumi and Zubz – in addition, soul-shaking DJ Khenzero will be joining them in rocking what looks to be one of the better HipHop line-ups we’ve seen this year in Johannesburg… However, to top it off, raise your hands in the air and go crazy for the main act, Somali’an born MC K’Naan, rhyming proof of African talent going all the way to the top globally. One show only: Saturday night 5 Sept, at Carfax – fans don’t hesitate, haters stay home, tickets from R130 get them here. Here’s more info: Internationally acclaimed Somali–born MC K’Naan will be bringing his dusty foot philosophy to South Africa for one show only on September 5. Carfax in Newtown will play host to the world renown K’Naan, alongside his South African counterparts Tumi and the Volume, Zubz, Music at Last and DJ Kenzhero. A modern folk hero and self-proclaimed troubadour, the Canadian MC is one of contemporary hip-hip’s most compelling voices, whose sly use of melody allows him to turn the harshest of stories into memorable musical moments. Like all scene-changing MCs, K’naan comes with an irresistible backstory and unmatched musical pedigree. Born in Mogadishu, K’Naan’s aunt was one of the country’s most famous singers while his grandfather was a respected poet. He grew up in the thick of Somalia’s civil war until his father, a refugee working as a cab driver in New York City—sent home enough money to fund his family’s escape. In a fittingly dramatic flourish, K’naan and his kin made it onto the last commercial flight out of the country, landing first in New York before relocating to Toronto, where K’naan began learning English with the help of hip-hop, rapping along phonetically to Rakim and Nas records and eventually attaining a highly musical fluency of his own. In 1999, K’Naan turned a speaking engagement before the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees into a spot on Youssou N’Dour’s 2001 album Building Bridges. In 2005 he released The Dusty Foot Philosopher to critical acclaim, winning the 2006 Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year. The following year, he won the BBC Radio 3 Award for World Music in the newcomer category for 2007.The album was re-released and re-packaged as a “Deluxe Edition” featuring new mixes and a bonus DVD in the United States by the emerging media company and record label iM (Interdependent Media, Inc.) in 2008. Over the past few years, he has worked with artists like Nelly Furtado, Mos Def, The Roots, Dead Prez, Pharoahe Monch and toured with Stephen and Damien...
Get some perspective at the NetWeb event tomorrow
In July we interviewed young entrepreneur Mongezi Mtati the organiser of the monthly Netweb events for entrepreneurs. It’s their first year anniversary (congrats!) and they’re going out big tomorrow night at Cappello’s in Ghandi Square with lots of give-aways and a presentation from Don Packett of Thunk! – they’re focusing on PERSPECTIVE in business… so go and get some! “When a group of smart people are struggling with an innovation based problem, it’s never a lack of knowledge that’s holding them back – it’s a lack of perspective.” Thunk! You are an expert at what you do. No one else does it better than you. You’ve learnt all there is, applied yourself, changed perception and discovered what works. But when do you start innovating? As industry influencers, however, we tend to get stuck in our ways. In Rules For Revolutionaries, Guy Kawasaki says: “we hardly ever consider a problem in the broadest way possible.” The legacy of what we’ve proven works stunts our creativity. Perspective, a way of solving your innovation based problem, is critical in reviving the change you always wanted to create. Can you still remember that first time, when you knew there was change needed in your current field? When you have thought about a problem for long periods, you are less likely to change things within that industry. The 90/10 rule at Thunk! is: what you know, all that you’ve applied before, only worked 90% of the time. The 10% is where the ability to innovate lies, which is the product of perspective. Don Packet, one of two perspective merchants in South Africa and the co-founder of Thunk! will be speaking at the Netweb Event. The other is his business partner. His experiences as co-founder of the only ‘perspective lab’ in the continent ensures, you will leave with new ideas to change (what’s now become) your old ways. He delivers on insights, ranging from work done with corporate companies and entrepreneurial ventures. At this anniversary Netweb Event we are also giving away: – A 1 year subscription to Succeed Magazine – A R50 000 corporate video customized for your business (Sponsored by Missing Link) – And a bottle of wine. RSVP here. What else?: If there are any questions please contact Mongezi at 011 794 6445 or email info@aquanova.co.za ——————————————————————————– Mongezi Mtati is a speaker, the founder of Netweb Event, NetwebTV and blogs here. He talks to himself and plays video games. Find him on Facebook and Twitter Links: a. Thunk! – http://www.thunklab.com/ b. Don Packett – http://donpackett.com/ c. Netweb Event – http://netwebevent.pbworks.com d. Succeed – www.succeed.co.za e. Missing Link – http://www.missinglink.co.za/ f. RSVP here...
Don’t Miss: Nandipha Mntambo – Umphatsi Wempi
Nandipha Mntambo was blessed to be born in the mountain kingdom of Swaziland – anyone familiar with the magnificent mountain monarchy will know how ubiquitous cattle are, one has to wonder if growing up surrounded by the gentle beasts has anything to do with the makings of the first solo exhibition of Nandipha Mntambo taking place at the Brodie/Stevenson gallery in Craighall in September. Nandipha says her upcoming body of work was in part inspired by some bullfighting she came across in Mozambique; we’re wondering if it was at that bullring just outside Maputo – intrigued, we once stopped and checked it out – it’s really eery, reminiscent of the bygone era of Portuguese occupation of Mozi… Anyway, we’re rambling – go and check out the exhibition for yourself and ponder on this brilliant young artists talent… Titled Umphatsi Wempi – loosely translated as ‘the general charged with overseeing a battle’ – the exhibition comprises several new sculptural works as well as video, photography and drawing. Central to this body of work is the concept of the boundary, particularly as something that constantly shifts and mutates, that is never fixed or static. The boundary between corporeal awareness and revulsion is explored through the artist’s use of raw cowhides, tails and ears, which are cured and sculpted. In Penis Vagina – One-Man Capsule (2009), the boundary between the need to fight and the need for protection is also apparent. Like Mntambo’s earlier piece uMcedo (2009), this work offers a space that one may enter for protection and perhaps preparation, only to emerge when one is ready. The sculpture is both penetrative and encapsulating, an evocative hermaphroditic form that speaks of pure potential. The artist’s interest in the dynamic tension that exists within the self, the push-pull between libido and mortido, life instinct and death drive, also appears in her photographic images. In The Rape of Europa, a reinterpretation of a Picasso sketch of the Minotaur caressing a girl, the artist occupies both roles, and in her recreation of Caravaggio’s painting of Narcissus gazing at his own reflection in a pond, she replaces Narcissus with herself as Zeus in bull form. In the bronze head-and-shoulders bust in the Renaissance tradition, she combines her own feminine features with those of Zeus disguised as a bull. In another new sculpture, Waiting (2009), a cowhide figure disappears into a wall. It is unclear whether the figure is waiting for salvation, or seeking a hiding place from an unknown terror. While the exposed rear of the prostrate form is undoubtedly a gesture of submission, there is also a sensuality and beauty to the figure, imbuing...
If it’s month-end it must be Coalstove
Celebrate month-end Sundays in an arty way with a bunch of enthusiastic film-loving supporters at the jaw-dropping Private Practice rooftop venue in Jozi inner city. They’ll be showing three films made by emerging South African film makers. Sold? If not, read on for Coalstove‘s description, if yes, read on anyway: From the rip-roaring to the ravishing, the energizing to the engaging… FINEST SHORT FILMS BY EMERGING YOUNG FILMMAKERS FROM JOBURG & BEYOND. SUNDAY, 30TH AUGUST 2009 ENTRY R20 6.30 PM FOR 7.00 PM @ PRIVATE PRACTICE NO. 195 JEPPE STREET (ENTRANCE ON BREE…See map below for directions) Kamakastig Land The South African entrant ‘Kammakastig Land’ which was written and directed by Brandon Oelofse, tells the story of Fourie (H.O.Meyer), a young Afrikaans man who sets out on a journey from Johannesburg to Cape Town to scatter his fathers’ ashes into the ocean at Cape Point. Fourie journeys the distance finding along the way a true sense of the man his father was, and by confronting the past ultimately finds his future in the process. The film is said to be a meditation on the current identities that have emerged out of the transition towards the new South Africa and in particular the psyche of the White Afrikaans Male. According to the filmmakers the narrative uses a number of devices – the classic American Western, the Road Movie and parallel narratives to guide its translation, meaning and style. The film was completed in 2007 and as an AFDA honours graduate film garnered ten awards at the AFDA Johannesburg film awards including for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. Dir: Brandon Olofse & Prod: Anthonie van der Walt & Peter Adolphis Nine Miles Beautiful Rebuilding faith, love and family is the long journey home. After a stint in jail, Darren arrives at his run-down family home to confront the aftermath of the tragic event that tore his family apart 18 months ago. He finds a resentful brother confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life, a worn-down mother at breaking point and the rusting wreck of the car that he was driving when their lives changed forever. Now Darren must find a way to bridge the gap between guilt, anger, despair and forgiveness to bring his family together again, and begin the journey towards healing they must all share. Prod: Peter Blackburn Prod: Graham Young Love in The Time of Blackouts Directed by : Thabang Phetla FOLLOWED BY A Q&A WITH THE FILMMAKERS IN ATTENDANCE For more information: Call 011 836 8911 Cell: 083 280 1181 Email: info@coalstove.co.za Visit...
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