CT Theatre of Magic coming to Jozi
You know how we occasionally ponder over why CT’s venues, experiences and general taste can outdo Jozi’s time and again? It’s our pondering and we’re sticking with it. Anyway, moan no more. Cape Town brings us the much desired Madame Zingara’s Spiegelpaleis tent and all the bells and whistles as the “Theatre of dreams” slides into Jozi – and it’s yours for the taking! It’s apparently a fantastical, magical, experiential break from the norm…we’ll be at opening night and let you know if the hype is on point. Events companies take note ! 🙂 New venue! Bookings open today. We decided to see what CT bloggers had to say about it, here’s PurpleRonnies take: The tent itself is something amazing to behold. It is huge. It seats around the outside of it in excess of 300 people. It has a stage at the back, a dj, a dance floor/stage in the middle and stained glass windows made in the 1920s and imported specially. The atmosphere was one of excitement and fun and not a little bit of silliness. The waiters and waitresses were all also dressed in various fun, silly or sexy outfits and this just really added to the whole effect. The performances were incredible and the highlight of my evening. The hostess was wonderfully funny, charming and sexy; and had a sultry, silky singing voice. We saw clowns, jugglers, singers, dancers and the like. But the amazing part consisted of three performers who I still drop my jaw at when I picture it in my mind. They suspended themselves from the ceiling using rings, ropes and other dangerously exciting things and suspended and contorted themselves in the most unimaginable ways….. And the official PR: The Theatre Of Dreams comes to The City Of Gold There is a legend that dates back to 1920, one of such grandeur and splendour that she will enchant all who pass through her seductive doors. The Theatre of Dreams is one of only a handful left in the world today. Like every old theatre, her spirit travels with her, woven into ballooning velvet canopies, merry go round dance floors and stained cut-glass windows. Her intimate booths, ornate bar and bevelled mirror columns hold a million secrets, while her glorious chandeliers hang above. The history of these Spiegelpaleis tents dates back to the 1920s when the tents were built to entertain patrons after WWI and were designed to travel across Europe to small villages where no entertainment was available. They have immense history, mystique and beauty to them and hold myriads of secrets in the mirrors and wood walls. Sell out shows across the world bear testament to their...
Represent Shesha: VUKA! call for entries
We urged you last year and we urge you again in the rapidly disappearing 007. If you want a chance to show your work as a director to the industry at large, the Vuka’s certainly give you a platform to do that. Now we’re not going to nag you, you know who you are, all Representah’s who are already directing or still dream of directing, make it happen! Find your charity partner and make that public service announcement. We look forward to seeing your name on the finalist’s list. You know you can do it! You got about 7 weeks – entries close the 20 Oct so get a move on brothers and sisters with vision, determination and talent. Represent! Every year, without fail, South African film makers dare to make PSA’s about important issues to enter into the MultiChoice VUKA! Awards. This year we dare you to do it again. Entries for the 9th annual MultiChoice VUKA! Awards have just opened. You don’t have to try hard to avoid reality. We live behind high walls, electric fences. Our car windows are up, doors locked. The MultiChoice VUKA! Awards dare you to open your eyes. We dare you to see, to hear and to feel. We dare you to make a commercial that encourages viewers to buy into humanity and not a product. We dare you to put your heart on your sleeve and move people. Come on, we dare you. If you cast your eyes over a list of the people who have dared to make MultiChoice VUKA! Awards it reads like a South African filmmakers guide to Who’s who. Luminaries like Keith Rose, Miles Goodall, Sunu Gonera, Cindy Lee, Kevin Fitzgerald, Mike Middleton, Werner Maritz, Sergio and Lizelle Mes pop out at you. Whether they initially entered as newcomers in the hope of launching their careers, or as professionals flexing their muscles; they all hold some things in common; the daring, the drive and the determination to be successful in this industry. “The MultiChoice VUKA! Awards aims to encourage South Africans to focus beyond the lens, creating empathy, inspiring action, building national pride and, ultimately, generating income and awareness for the charities”, says Marilyn Watson, corporate communications manager, MultiChoice. You can hear the same note of daring in the voices of last year’s winners. Best Overall Newcomer winner, Leon Von Solms says that participating in the MultiChoice VUKA! Awards gave him the confidence and the affirmation he needed to continue following his dream. Best Newcomer Director Matthew Bilton says creating a MultiChoice VUKA! is a rite of passage for any young filmmaker because it gives you a strong understanding of the production...
Free Workshops at Joy of Jazz!
Jazz Heads take note – we’ve been meaning to give you the “heads up” on this for ages and hope we’re not too late and that there is still space in the free workshops. Some of the world’s top jazz masters, appearing at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival, will run free workshops teaching youngsters and musicians the intricacies of the craft. The jazz stars are the collective winners of 17 Grammy Awards, the world-renowned Count Basie Orchestra; trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis from the world famous Marsalis family of New Orleans,; revolutionary trip hop French band No Jazz; the Clarke/Duke Project which features bassist Stanley Clarke and pianist George Duke; Israel’s Common Bond and local saxophonist Shannon Mowday. In celebration of Women’s Month, Standard Bank and Gwen Ansell, will also be offering a week-long practical workshop for women arts writers. The annual Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival runs in a selection of Newtown venues from Thursday, 23 August to Saturday, 25 August. Mandie van der Spuy, head of arts sponsorship at Standard Bank explains the rationale behind the Joy of Jazz workshops: “The Festival not only offers local jazz lovers the best of international and African jazz, it also hopes to give something back. The information and knowledge that these musical giants share during the workshops goes a long way in affirming and mentoring young South African musicians and hopefully sees to the success of the industry in years to come.” The Lady Porcupine writing course, which runs from August 20 to 24 in Newtown, will be run by Gwen Ansell, music/jazz writer and journalism trainer. The week-long course is offered at a fee of R1500 which covers all teaching and materials. Fifteen scholarships will be made available to women candidates who meet the course entry requirements. Music workshops: Thursday August 23 10.30am to 2.30pm Performers: George Duke & Stanley Clarke Theme: Electric Piano & Synthesiser/Bassline Venue: South West Gauteng College Performers: The Count Basie Orchestra Theme: Big bands Venue: Music Academy of Gauteng Performers: No Jazz Theme: Slam Jazz Venue: Central Johannesburg College Performer: Delfeayo Marsalis Theme: Trombone and performance techniques Venue: Tshwane University Performer: Common Bond Theme: Jam session Venue: Vaal University Monday August 20 to 24 10am to 5pm Performers: Shannon Mowday Theme: Composition & Performance Techniques Venue: Bassline and other venues For more information contact Mojalefa at T Musicman on 011 326 0141 or email ar@tmusicman.co.za. More details on the Gwen Ansell’s Lady Porcupine jazz writing course, Shannon Mowday and all other workshops on...
Represent Recommends: Sundays in Soweto
It’s mosdef the place to be to forget your Sunday Blues as winter winds down towards Spring – join Levi’s ekasi at the Backroom in SO-WE-TO for the month of August… With a line up of some of Rep’s favourite muso’s and DJ’s including 340ml, Lira, Kwani and Khenzero, the old adage of “you don’t want to miss this” rings true for four weekends in a row. Levi’s® Vintage Sunday’s moves to Soweto for the month of August In August Levi’s® Vintage Sundays moves to Soweto for the first time, taking over The Backroom every Sunday night, and giving this vibrant township even more vibe to close off the weekend. A true reflection of our country’s diverse and inspiring musical wealth, the acts on show are bound to get the venue all heated up with their uniquely South African sounds. It’s going to be an incredible journey into the heart of good music. Make sure you’re along for the ride. The weekly attraction will be homeboy and hero DJ Kenzhero, the man who knows how to turn the party on and drop the tunes that we all love. His style moves from Latin and Soul to Jazz-tinged Hip Hop, to all-out Funk and rare wonders. He plays all over, but he’s always on the mark. On the 5th it’s all about hip hop. T.R.U.E. get it all going with their uniquely crafted style that place as much emphasis on lucid lyricism as it does on groundbreaking beats. The crowds adore them – and they are proud to give the love back. Zuluboy is also up on the night, keeping true to his roots with a modern mixture of traditional rhythms and future beats. His energy is boundless – so be prepared to be swept up by it. Albert Frost is joined by the twin talents of Selaelo Selota and Lira to take it further on the 12th. Albert’s the master of the laidback groove, but don’t let that fool you, because his organic, intricate blues guitar compositions have been known to bewitch audiences around the country. He’ll be doing just this at The Backroom. Selaelo Selota and Lira take the stage as a duo, complementing each other’s powerful personas with a shared vision for live brilliance. Selaelo’s genre-defying jazz-drenched music combined with Lira’s super-sultry, heavenly voice. What a treat. On the 19th Echoes and Kwani Experience take the stage. Echoes are three friends with a common passion: beautiful music. This love is brought to life with their unique vocal melodies and guitar accompaniments. They believe in remaining fresh and are amazingly original onstage. Kwani Experience are the 8-piece who always give...
Lolo Veleko @ the Goodman
Catch moving and shaking “street photographer” and artist Nontsikelelo “Lolo” Veleko at one of our favourite galleries, the Goodman in Jan Smuts avenue, closing on the 11 August. You can read more about Lolo in an interview on AfricanColours where they describe Lolo’s backstory as: Nontsikelelo Veleko started photography as a part time study course at the Market Photo Workshop in Johannesburg. Her first major photographic exhibition was “Seeing Women”, which took place at the Market Photo Workshop in 2005. This year she was selected to represent the Market Photo Workshop as participant at the Bieler Fototage, a Swiss photographic encounter. She was born in Bodibe, North West Province, South Africa and studied graphic design at Cape Technicon. In 1999 she enrolled at the Market Photo Workshop. Focusing on issues of the identity, Mute!Scream!Mute! examines how people present themselves to the outside world and thus construct their identities. Through the use fashion and clothing Nontsikelelo Veleko questions perceived notions of beauty. She focuses her lens on those around her, but at times she also turns the lens towards herself, posing both in guises of various identities and representing herself in self-portraiture. Focusing on issues of the identity, Mute!Scream!Mute! examines how people present themselves to the outside world and thus construct their identities. Through the use fashion and clothing Nontsikelelo Veleko questions perceived notions of beauty. She focuses her lens on those around her, but at times she also turns the lens towards herself, posing both in guises of various identities and representing herself in self-portraiture.The exhibition comprises three series of photographs. http://www.notblackenough.lolo/, a project that emerged out of Nontsikelelo Veleko’s early interests in issues surrounding identity in 2002. In this series of photographs she uses the self to explore South Africa’s mixed cultural heritage, assuming other peoples identities by donning different clothes and props. Her images challenge perceptions about identity that are based on appearances and historical assumptions (Murinik 2007). http://www.notblackenough.lolo/ explores Veleko’s identity in terms of the way other black people view her. Placed in the context of urban life, Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder, continues Veleko’s exploration of identity. Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder is a study, documentation and constructing of urban street fashion culture in Johannesburg, South Africa. It specifically looks at urban fashion around Johannesburg’s city centers and surrounding townships. Veleko uses this series of photographs to examine how people present themselves to the outside world and construct their identities. These portraits challenge perceptions of beauty, examining the very act of judging others in terms of the external identities that they project. A new photographic series of Self Portraits will also be exhibited...
Arts Alive brings on Spring
Spring is definitely on it’s way as more and more events fill the September calender. Arts Alive announces a hot line-up for this years festival including the electro maestro Frederik Galliano, world music heavyweights Mory Kante and Hermeto Pascoal and a dance and film segment for some flavour on the side. Here’s more: Newtown, Johannesburg is set to come alive with the sounds and sights of the annual Arts Alive September Festival, which boasts an array of compelling artistic offerings for Joburg residents to indulge in! Kicking off on August 31st, the festivities will continue throughout the month of September, and include artistic programmes from a diverse set of disciplines – theatre, dance, film, comedy, music and the visual arts will all be part of the Arts Alive programme this year. The annual festival, hosted by the City of Joburg, has become synonymous with an exceptional, accessible and engaging artistic programme that harnesses artistic talent from various parts of the world to create an incredible smorgasbord of cultural events. Arts Alive is housed in the Community Development Department of the Joburg City. The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for Community Development Nandi Mayathula-Khoza said: “Arts Alive is making a meaningful contribution towards the City’s vision where community development, personal growth and social mobility are enhanced so that challenges of poverty, vulnerability, inequality and social exclusion can be fundamentally addressed”. True to tradition, this years Arts Alive September Festival 2007 has secured the services of musical giants such as Cuba’s Omar Sosa, Frederic Galliano, from France, the world-renowned balafon playing genius Mory Kante, Vieux Farka Toure, son of the late, great Ali Farka Toure and Brazilian, Hermeto Pascaol amongst others. “Once again, the City of Johannesburg will be home to the crème of the world’s cultural and artistic talent over an entire month period, comments Steven Sack Director for Arts and Culture. “ From Newtown right through to Soweto, Arts Alive will be providing Joburg residents an incredible array of arts and culture offerings. We’re bringing Brazil, Mali, France, Guinea, Cuba, India, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe right to Joburg’s doorstep in the form of an incredible artistic line-up, and really encourage Joburger’s to shake off the winter blues and enjoy the festivities brought to you courtesy of Arts Alive. The programme includes a must-see visual arts tribute to Sipho Hotstix Mabuse, which will be hosted at the Hector Pieterson Museum throughout the month of September. Also on the visual arts programme is the highly acclaimed Africa Remix exhibition and the Sasol Wax Art Award held at Johannesburg Art Gallery. Arts 02 The dance element of Arts is an exemplar...
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