FIRST PHYSICAL auditioning for full time DANCER
Grahamstown-based First Physical Theatre Company has called for expressions of interest in auditioning for positions of full-time resident performer. Successful applicants will be invited to audition in Cape Town, Durban, East London, Grahamstown, Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg, Port Elizabeth, and/or Pretoria in September/October 2005 for positions commencing January 2006. Ac…cording to First Physical’s managing director, Calum Stevenson, “the company is recognised as a cutting-edge, influential, invigorating and inspiring centre for dance and physical theatre. Aside from touring in the Eastern and Western Cape, KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng, the company will extend its touring destinations to include the SADC countries from 2006”. First Physical is also extensively involved in education and development programmes including a Youth Company, classes, workshops, residencies, skills development, and the development of written, audio-visual and electronic resources for training and education in arts and culture. The deadline for expressions of interest, which must be submitted on an official application form, is Monday 19 September. For further information, EMAIL or call 046 – 622 3897....
Search for the best SA dancer – where are u?
Girls, do you have what it takes to win the title of South Africa’s best dancer? Then get ready for Always Keep Movin’ – a nation-wide search for the country’s very best mover – be it Hip Hop, House or Kwaito! Celebrity judges TK, Psyfo, Twasa and DJ Suga will be critting young hopefuls across South Africa (Durban 22 October at The Workshop; Johannesburg 29 October at Southgate …Mall and Cape Town 5 November at The Liberty Promenade) to narrow the search down to 1 winner per region. They will be flown to Johannesburg to perform live on Jam Alley, battling it out for the coveted title. Not only will the winner walk away as South Africa’s very best dancer, but will also win a R10 000.00 shopping spree with Jam Alley’s Twasa! It couldn’t be simpler to enter. Just be at the regional competition nearest to you at 10am on the day of the competition. Sms “Always” to 33990 to receive information on the event and how to enter, or call 0860 112 188 for further details. Award winning artists TK and Proverb will be performing the “Always Keep Movin” Hip-Hop track, especially recorded for this competition. They will also be on hand to hand out the very first copies of the Always Dance compilation promo CD -also featuring tracks from DJ Suga and Yo-Tv’s...
MUST DO: BYO – Summer Season of Dance in CT
We love a “Bring your Own” affair, it’s not that we’re cheapskates, it’s just that we like to focus on the entertainment and don’t want to be wandering around looking for food or phuza and most definitely not sulking in a long queue. If you live in Cape Town and need an inspirational afternoon of lazy food, friends and soulful entertainment, get to the FIrst Physical pi…cnics at the Box Theatre – book your place, it will be soul’ed out. Bonus is it’s chipile too. “Eat, drink, and be entertained” Bring a picnic hamper, drinks and friends to an entertaining summer season of dance. “Fizz Theatre” is on at the Box Theatre, Fri 18 & Sat 19 November only. Booking’s essential. Never seen Grahamstown’s First Physical Theatre Company in action? Even if you have, here’s your best opportunity this year to be entertained. Bring a picnic hamper, drinks, and friends to “Fizz Theatre” – a summer season of dance at the Box Theatre, Fri 18 & Saturday 19 November only. Especially programmed to be varied and fun, “Fizz Theatre” showcases highlights from the company’s year of dance and physical theatre. Aside from the company’s regular Festival and home-seasons, First Physical has performed this year to great acclaim in Johannesburg, Durban, Pietermaritzburg, and parts of the Eastern Cape. “Fizz Theatre is made up of several short extracts from our work during the year” says Managing Director, Calum Stevenson, “and is ideal for newcomers – people who have often wondered what we’re about, and have yet to experience the excitement and exhilaration of physical theatre.” This enjoyable occasion features a dynamic range of styles including physical theatre, contemporary dance, mime and hip-hop. There are only forty seats available per show, and booking is essential. “Fizz Theatre” is on Friday 18 November at 7 pm and Saturday 19 November at 2 pm and 7 pm at The Baxter. Patrons are welcome to bring drinks and snacks, and the evening lasts about 75 minutes. Tickets are just R20 and R15 (concessions). Bookings and enquiries on 046-622 3897, e-mail or SMS 083-410 7747. Pic by Elsabý van Tonder....
Alive in Joburg – Neill Blomkamp uyarocka
Remember you heard about him first through Represent!We put together an interview for Neill who was stuck in Amsterdam in transit to Vancouver. He promptly sent us his answers once he was back in Canada – FInd out what it is that makes Neill Blomkamp tick and how he got to such success at only 26 years old! Click here to see his film… . 1)In a nutshell, “Who is Neill Blomkamp” and why are we only hearing of him now in film/commercials?In 1998 I started working at Rainmaker, a VFX house in Vancouver, as a visual effect artist. I worked on computer generated fx for television shows like Smallville, Dark Angel and Stargate SG1. In 2003 I left Rainmaker and began directing music videos for Canadian artists and in 2004, began directing commercials. In 1998 I started working at Rainmaker, a VFX house in Vancouver, as a visual effect artist. I worked on computer generated fx for television shows like Smallville, Dark Angel and Stargate SG1. In 2003 I left Rainmaker and began directing music videos for Canadian artists and in 2004, began directing commercials.The commercials I’ve directed all feature heavy visual effects simply because that is my background and has been my stepping stone into directing. As I grow as a director I will begin to shed that more and more and eventually end up with some work that is purely actor driven. I’ve done ads that were featured only in America, the only one so far for a European client was for Citroen, with that dancing car, which played in SA. 2)Give us a short cv of your life – where and when were you born, where were you at school, where did you study, where do you live now and why? I was born in Johannesburg in 1979, I went to Sandown Primary and then to Redhill Highschool. From a pretty young age I became very interested in filmmaking, initially I wanted to become a prosthetic special effects artist, but as computers began to get more powerful, it seemed like visual effects was a more interesting field. So, I began messing around with 3d animation, which at that time was much much rarer then it is now. At about 16 I met up with some guys who had a company doing what I wanted to be doing, and they let me use their equipment and software, almost like a mini film school. My mother was always talking about us leaving South Africa for more opportunity somewhere overseas, so when I was 18 we landed in Canada. From there it was much easier I think to get...
Don’t mess with Durban Artists – have some Respect!
It seems all is not peachy post the recent combined DDC and Red Eye art event in Durban – Our Deben Dee-va follows through on her review of the event with a referral to an interesting article on the Artsthrob website entitled “Is Art a gift?” by Tamlyn Martin, the curator of the art side of the event. Certainly something to chew on… Is art a gift? by Tamlyn MartinONG Is Art a gift? This is a question that hangs heavily on my shoulders as I field calls from various parties over the inadequate media representation of artworks presented at the recent ‘Red Eye meets DDC 2005′, an event I curated on behalf of the Durban Art Gallery and the Durban Design Council (DDC) production team. As an independent curator who runs two independent alternative gallery spaces (at Bean Bag Bohemia and at Home restaurants), I am well aware of the vital importance publicity plays in promoting artists’ careers. Not only does adequate media representation relay vitally important information about the context of the artwork and the artist who created it, but it also gives the work a broader audience allowing access to those who may not logistically have been able to experience the work themselves. Media representation also endorses and adds value to the artwork in the same way it might a beverage or garment. In fact, it is no secret that prime media time, when given to commercial goods, translates directly into money. Sponsorships and buy-ins from brand managers and the economic sector is not merely based on the intrinsic qualities of an event but rather on the event’s potential to ‘steal’ them media attention and those prime time seconds. Artists have the power to excite the imagination of the media and earn those valuable prime time minutes. However, their artwork is seldom represented properly, often simply providing a decorative foil in an elaborate branding exercise. Fortunately, some artists like myself have been able to foster the independence and freedom required to speak out against this type of manipulation. In fact, it is my mission as an arts curator to empower my fellow artists to such a position of freedom, as it is my belief that a vibrant and healthy artistic community is reliant on this degree of autonomy and self-respect. I have no doubt that these qualities were what won me the honour of curating this event and enabled me, quite literally, to bring to the party a number of highly sought after artists. It is also what requires me to challenge the motives of the DDC production team. Had they read or considered my article...
Review: Jomba! 2005 dance was a treat!
Our Durban Dance Fundi Naz reckons it will be a long wait till the next spread of such fine Dance talent in Durb’s. If you missed the Jomba festival, you missed out ! Thanks to Naz for the words. Durban only ever gets to see this much dance once every year, and the 8th annual Jomba! Contemporary Dance Festival was well worth the wait. Durbans finest dance compa…nies, including Phenduka Dance Theatre, Fantastic Flying Fish, and the unforgettable Flatfoot Dance Company, each presented new works proving that Durban is rife with dance talent. We were lucky enough to have Lab Dance from the Netherlands performing on Tuesday and Wednesday night at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, which was a nice change from the style we are accustomed to seeing in South Africa. The show was a series of four short pieces, each one exploring the connections of the body and the relationship between dancers on a bare stage, with dim lighting and minimal music. Their contact work and body articulation was beautifully refreshing to see and the standard of dance was phenomenal. Thursday the 25th August was Paradise, a collaboration of twelve different young choreographers from Durban, each depicting a 15 minute piece of their personal interpretations of the Paradise theme. The KZNSA gallery provided a scenic setting for the work, with dancers making use of the indoor gallery, as well as the park, jungle gym and stair case, making the environment an integral part of the performance. Paradise was directed by Jay Pather of Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre and was an interesting display of dance as an art form. Also gracing us with their presence were Kettly Noel from Mali (who proved to be very popular last year), and Jant-Bi from Senegal, with an intense performance telling the story of the Rwandan genocide. The final night saw four of Durban’s best up-and-coming dancers and choreographers presenting works of their own. With the likes of Marise Kyd and Caroline van Wyk of Flatfoot Dance Company, as well as the freshest hip-hop band on the scene, The Big Idea, the future of Durban contemporary dance,if nurtured well, is sure to be a bright one . Unfortunately, if you missed this rare opportunity to get a good dose of quality contemporary dance in Durban you’re gonna have to wait for next year!...
Proudly brought to you by:
