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10th Jomba! Contemporary Dance Experience 24 August – 1 September

Jomba! focus on dance development

ChoreoLab Participants

The 10 th Jomba! Contemporary Dance Experience, between 24 August – 1 September, focuses attention on dance development programmes aimed at enriching the choreographic skills of dance makers in the region . Recognising development as a core element for the continued establishment of dance as a significant artform in South Africa , Jomba has made the Choreographers Residency Laboratory – the ChoreoLab -- its flagship project for 2007.

Panaibra Gabriel pdf here

Mozambiquean choreographer Panaibra Gabriel and French lighting designer Eric Wurtz will mentor eleven KwaZulu-Natal choreographers through a process that culminates in presentations of their works at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre across two weekends during Jomba.

Eric Wurtz pdf here

This forms the 2nd Phase of the ChoreoLab Residency which began in May with choreographic workshops led by Professor Gary Gordon, and organized under the auspices of KZN DanceLink. ChoreoLab participants are Thulile Bengu, Sitembiso Gcabashe, Sifiso Khumalo, Mlekeleli Khuzwayo, Vusi Makanya, Sanele Mzinyane, Sifiso Ngcobo, Sibusiso Ngidi, S'phelele Nzama, Varsha Sharma, and Jabu Siphika. ChoreoLab performances take place on 24th, 25th, and 31st August, and 1st September.

International participation also includes a one-off performance on 30 th August of the production Cruda Bellezza by the Teatrodanza Tiziana Arnoldi company of Switzerland .

Teatrodanza company of Switzerland

Cruda Bellezza is the story of the challenges facing a young Angolan, Isabel, and the struggle to find redemption and justice after emerging from an environment of war. Uniquely, this very biographical piece features Angolan dancer Isabel Lunkumbisa in the title role.

The festival hosts the Jomba! Fringe night on 26 th August. The festival is preceded by a Jomba! Youth Fringe day at Umlazi M-Section Community Hall on 18 th August.

Tickets are R35 (R25 for students and pensioners). Performances take place at 7.30pm each evening. Booking is through Computicket or at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from one hour before the show starts.

Hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN), Jomba is supported by National Lottery, HIVOS, Pro-Helvetia Arts Council of Switzerland , Royal Netherlands Embassy, Stichting Doen, KZN DanceLink and the City of Durban .

Media enquiries Including high res press photos please contact: Sharlene Versfeld at sharlene@versfeld.co.za or 031-2011650

Pre festival selection : free event

Umlazi M-Section Community Hall Saturday

18 August 2007 @ 12.30 noon

The Jomba! Youth Fringe

The Jomba! Youth Fringe is open to all choreographers and dancers under the age of 16-years who are working within the contemporary dance idiom. This year’s Jomba! Youth Fringe will include many of Durban’s up-and-coming contemporary dancers involved in various dance development projects in our province.

These include:
Project Dudlu Ntombi (KwaMashu) – Facilitated by Flatfoot Dance Company
Project Dudlu Ntombi (Umlazi) – Facilitated by Flatfoot Dance Company
The KwaMashu School of Dance – Facilitated by Vusi Makanya
Project Hheshe Nsizwa (Umlazi) – Facilitated by Flatfoot Dance Company
The Young Ones/Ematholeni – Facilitated by Sifiso Kitsona Khumalo
Cato Manor Vibe!! – A Fantastic Flying Fish Dance Company Project, facilitated by Musa Hlatshwayo

And many others… A definite MUST SEE!

To find the Umlazi M-Section Hall, take Mangosuthu Highway, pass 11 sets of robots, after the Total Garage, turn left into Road 1403. Drive until you see the sign ‘M-Section Hall’ on the left hand side. Tel: 082 875 6065

24th August (Friday)

Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre

19:30

pdf here

pdf here

Sifiso Kitsona Khumalo

Sifiso began his performance career in 1998 with the UKUSA ART programme. In 2001 he joined Phenduka Dance Theatre’s training programme. After completing his training at Phenduka, he toured with the acclaimed African Footprint to Morocco and India. He joined Flatfoot Dance Company in 2006. Sifiso’s choreographic works include Distance, Men can make a diff erence and the collaborative Three Men in a Square Space with Flatfoot Dance Company in 2006. Recently, Sifiso performed at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival in Three Men in a Square Space. In addition to this, Sifiso acts as a facilitator on Flatfoot’s Dance Development projects in KwaMashu and Umlazi and he is also involved in workshops that the company runs in the rural village of Mboza. Performance works that he has performed in include: Head First (2003) with Phenduka Dance Theatre and Challo Cinema 3 (2007) at the Playhouse Complex. Sifiso recently completed a graduate course – Dance in Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Durban).

pdf here

Sibusiso Ngidi

Sibusiso Ngidi matriculated from Sea Cow Lake Secondary School in 1997 and in 2000 joined Shwibeka Dance Ensemble. Sibusiso performed with Shwibeka on a number of occasions, including No Boundary-No Space at the Playhouse in 2001. Later that year, Sibusiso joined Phenduka Dance Theatre’s Training Programme, and performed with the company both in KwaZulu-Natal and throughout South Africa and abroad. Sibusiso is now working as a freelance dancer and has choreographed one theatre work for the Durban University of Technology’s dance dramas in 2006. Sibusiso’s achievements include: an award from Dance For Youth in 2002 and a KZN DanceLink award for Breakthrough/Newcomer Male in 2004.

pdf here

Varsha Sharma

Varsha Sharma spent 12 years at the Nateshwar Dance Academy (NDA), under the tutelage of Smeetha Maharaj, and Shri Vaibhav Joshi, where she excelled in the art of North Indian Classical Dance (Kathak) and Indian Folk Dance. Having graduated from the academy at the age of 17, she presented Manch Pravesh at the Playhouse in 1999. As a member of Nateshwar Dance Company, she travelled to Poland in 2001 and performed at the International Woodstock Festival. A year later, she performed in Belgium for the Liege Autumn Commercial Fair. Through a series of intensive workshops in South Africa and abroad, with renowned international artists like Shri Pratap Pawar and Akram Khan (kathak dance, contemporary movement), Shri Sachin Shankar, Shobana Jayesingh and Angela Boeti (creative educational dance based on Laban/Bartenieff Fundamentals), she was able to gain mature insight into trends and rapid changes in the world of dance, internationally. Varsha holds a B.A. Degree in Kathak and Choreography and is now assistant dance tutor at the NDA and dance teacher at Westville Hindu Primary School. In 2007, she choreographed The Wedding of Ram and Sita produced by the S.A. Opera and Ballet Company and in June 2007, was assistant choreographer for Chalo Cinema 3 by the Playhouse Company in association with the NDC.

25th August (Saturday)

Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre

19:30

pdf here

Rustufaria Sanele Mzinyane

Sanele works as a free-lance dancer and performer in Durban. His speciality is in Contemporary African Dance but he is also trained in a variety of other diverse dance styles such as street dance, gumboot dance and traditional dance. He began his performance career in 1999 when he co-founded THE AFRICAPELLA an all male a-capella group which performed in and around Durban. Later he joined UKUSA ART programme, before becoming a trainee with Durban’s Phenduka Dance Theatre from 2001 – 2004. He has worked with, amongst others, Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre, Durban City Dance Company and Ubuntu Multi Talented Club. He has also created work for the Jomba! Contemporary Dance’s Fringe, entitled Decisions (2006). In addition to his performance repertoire, Sanele has also taught numerous dance and performance workshops at schools in the Durban area. Recently he has completed a graduate course at The University of KwaZulu-Natal in Dance in Education. His awards include a KZN DanceLink award for Breakthrough/Newcomer dancer in 2004.

pdf here

Sithembiso Gcabashe

Sithembiso began his contemporary dance training in 2001 as a Phenduka Dance Theatre trainee. During his training he performed in several of the company’s works including When the Outside Comes In (2003) – which won the Daimler Chrysler Award for Best South African Choreography in 2003; HeadFirst (2003); Gathering (2003); Holes in the Heart (2004); Double U (2004) and Dankie Pitoli (2005). In 2005, after completing his training, he joined Phenduka Dance Theatre as a full-time company member and performed in Traces (2005), Straight Up (2006); My Fair Lady (2006) and Paradise Changes in 2006 (a collaboration between Phenduka Dance Theatre and Jazzart Dance Theatre). Sithembiso’s accolades include winning the FNB Vita Award for Best Up and Coming Male Dancer (2000-2001), a KZN DanceLink Breakthrough/Newcomer Award (2004) and he was nominated for the KZN DanceLink Best Male Dancer Award in 2005.

pdf here

Vusi Makanya

Vusi Makanya began dancing with Shwibeka Dance Ensemble in KwaMashu in 1998. In 2001 he joined Phenduka Dance Theatre’s training programme. Vusi has since been involved in a variety of dance theatre works, he has performed Straight (2002) in Cape Town and Aida with Jazzart Dance Theatre in Pretoria. He traveled with Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre and performed on a number of occasions with the company, including the World Social Forum in Mumbai, India (2004), and Charity Show in Muscat, Oman (2007). Vusi has also choreographed his own work with the KwaMashu School of Dance – a project which he runs and facilitates. Works include, One Child to Another Child (2006), presented as part of the Jomba! Fringe programme and Dance for the Music (2007) which was a short season presented in KwaMashu this year.

26th August (Sunday)

Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre

19:30

Jomba! Fringe

The Jomba! Fringe

Entry onto the Fringe was open to all choreographers and dancers over the age of 16-years who are working within the contemporary dance idiom. This performance platform provides an opportunity to present work within a professional environment and has proved a useful developmental step in the careers of local dancers and choreographers.

30th August (Thursday)

Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre

19:30

Teatrodanza Tizania Arnoboldi: CRUDA BELLEZZA

Teatrodanza company of Switzerland

pdf here

Teatrodanza Tiziana Arnaboldi

Tiziana Arnaboldi is a dancer, choreographer and director who was born in Locarno (Switzerland) in 1956. After her studies in physical education, she worked with Rey Phillips in Zurich, Carolyn Carlson in Paris and Pina Bausch in Essen, Germany.In 1987, she founded the company Teatrodanza Tiziana Arnaboldi, a company that is now recognised as one of the most interesting contemporary dance companies in Switzerland. Using the peculiarities of the single interpreters, Tiziana Arnaboldi developed her own language of ‘teatrodanza’, in which the strength of gesture melts with the lightness of poetry. The company’s performance highlights include, 1000 e 1 Aqua which Arnaboldi co-produced with the Companhia de Almada (Portugal) and was presented as part of the European Project during the international year of the water. Donne chi si raccontano and 1000 e 1 Aqua were performed in Genoa at the Teatro dell’ Archivolto for the occasion: Genoa 2004 Capital of the European Culture. With Cruda Bellezza, which will be presented at Jomba! this year, the company has marked a further very important artistic breakthrough, using new choreographic and theatrical developments which have garnered positive public reception and critique.

CRUDA BELLEZZA

Teatrodanza company of Switzerland

It is from injustice that we need to start. CRUDA BELLEZZA is the story of Isabel, a young girl full of courage, born and raised in Angola until the age of 14. Since her country is at war, she leaves it and reaches Switzerland all alone…..On stage, words, breathing and silence fl ow in a map of emotions from dancers-actors, and where the body is refl ection and poetry, a source of continuous resources in a permanent swing between reality and desire, dreams and life. Physicality is set in counterpoint to the glances, images and memories of places in which it is still possible to fi nd redemption; where nature, in its infi nite beauty, reconfi rms the possibility of justice in life.

Production details

Teatrodanza company of Switzerland

Director Tiziana Arnaboldi
Choreography Tiziana Arnaboldi con gli interpreti
Choreography Assistant Roberta Wezel
Interpreters Giuseppe Asaro, Michel Casanovas, Lucie Lataste, Isabel Lunkembisa, Valentina Moar, Tommi Zeuggin
Music Mauro Casappa
Percussion Magatte Ndiaye
Video Images Mohammed Soudani
Scenography Michele Arnaboldi
Art Work Malù Cortesi
Lighting Manager François Gendre
Lighting Manager Assistant Catherine Rutishauser, Christoph Siegenthaler
Costumes Edith MeniDrawings Lucie Lataste
Collaborators Isabella Medici, Irina Simoneta
Photography Michele Engeler, Sergio Luban
Graphics Cristina Morinini

pdf here

Supported by Pro Helvetia Arts Council of Switzerland.

31st August (Friday)

Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre

19:30

Thulile Bhengu

pdf here

A graduate from The Durban Institute of Technology, Thulile holds a diploma in Drama and Performance. She joined Flatfoot Dance Company at the beginning of 2004 and has been with the company ever since. Thulile has worked with other acclaimed choreographers such as Jay Pather, David Gouldie, Sbonakaliso Ndaba and Musa Hlatshwayo. She has also worked as a choreographer on, amongst others, PARADISE and Flatfoot’s ‘Dance Quickies’ student training company seasons in 2005 and 2007. Thulile is an avid director and directed the one-hander: BeastI, which was performed as part of the 2004 South African Women’s Arts Festival – hosted by the Playhouse Company in Durban. Thulile assists in the co-ordination and teaching of Flatfoot’s Dance Development Projects in Umlazi, KwaMashu and Mboza, and recently completed a graduate course in Dance in Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Durban).

S’ifiso Magesh Ngcobo

pdf here

Jabu Siphika

Born in KwaMashu, Jabu began her dance career in 2003 with the Shwibeka Dance Ensemble. While with Shwibeka, Jabu also worked with Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre at the World Kenders Festival in the Netherlands. Jabu then joined Phenduka Dance Theatre’s trainee/training programme in 2004, and also spent some time as a senior member of Phenduka Dance Theatre, performing extensively with the company in such seasons as Holes in the Heart which was performed in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg. Recently she joined Flatfoot Dance Company and has performed in two seasons with Flatfoot: Isigqi Sasemzansi – rhythms of the South and Premonitions. Choreographically, Jabu has collaborated with fellow Flatfooter Nkululeko Ntombela on a work entitled Unfaithful Railways, Flatfoot’s ‘Dance Quickies ‘07’ season – at the Square Space Theatre. Jabu assists with facilitation on Flatfoot’s Dance Development projects – Dudlu Ntombi – arise mvemvane! – in KwaMashu and Umlazi. She has recently completed a course in Dance in Education – a graduate module off ered at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Durban). pdf here

1st September (Saturday)

Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre

19:30

pdf here f

S’phelele Nzama

pdf here

Durban born dancer and choreographer S’phelele started contemporary dance by attending classes with Boyzie Cekwana and Jackie Semela. He also worked with the Flatfoot Dance Company as a dancer, teacher and manager of Flatfoot’s dance community project – Siyagijima Dance Theatre in KwaMashu. His debut choreography was Cokamile, My Mother’s Name (2003), choreographed as part of Flatfoot Dance Company’s Below the Surface season. He was recipient of a Jomba! FNB Vita New Moves grant in 2003, for which he choreographed Freestruggle. He received a Jomba! Young Choreographer’s grant in 2006, for which he choreographed Umphafa, which was recently performed at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. S’phelele has worked with various artists and companies such as Musa Hlatshwayo and has been a guest performer with Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre and The Fantastic Flying Fish Dance Company. S’phelele has also been a principal dancer for the African Footprint company in Johannesburg for two years. Recently, he directed/choreographed Confusion a work presented as part of the June 16th Youth Day celebrations at the Bat Centre.

pdf here

Mlekeleli Khuzwayo

Mlekelele began his dance career with a group called L.T.d in KwaMashu. In 1999 he formed his own dance group called Craze Crew before joining the Shwibeka Dance Ensemble. In 2001 he became a member of the Phenduka Dance Theatre training programme; since then he has performed in all of the company’s major choreographic works including Head First (2003) and Holes in the Heart (2004). He was awarded a KZN DanceLink award for Best Male Newcomer in 2005, and in the same year was awarded a Jomba! Young Choreographer’s grant. Later in 2005 he formed a project in KwaMashu called Rise and Shine which was sponsored and supported by Phenduka Dance Theatre. In 2006, he choreographed a work entitled Loxin Kalsa for Imbumba and later that same year he choreographed Miss KZN and Tahilla Song Pray which were staged at the Playhouse Drama Theatre. pdf here

Last updated on 25 July 2007

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Original photography by: Val Adamson, Rafs Mayet, Precious Ngcobo, Jeeva Rajgopaul, Monica Rorvik, and Peter Rorvik