Welcome to the FNB Dance Umbrella!

The FNB Dance Umbrella 2007 will be a highlight on all dance-lovers’ calendars. This year the festival will feature 25 programmes of work representative of all forms of contemporary choreography and dance in this country. Please check out our links and images. If you need any information, please do not hesitate to contact us on 011 482 4140 / 011 482 5615 or on danceumbrella@artslink.co.za

Thursday, February 8

About FNB Dance Umbrella

17 February - 17 March 2007
Discover new and exciting contemporary dance-works!!

FNB Dance Umbrella will celebrate its 19 years of presenting an open and free platform for new contemporary choreography and dance! The 19th FNB Dance Umbrella Festival programmes features 25 programmes of exciting, innovative, challenging new work.

This year's festival will include new commissioned works, the New Moves for up and coming artists and the Stepping Stones programme for youth and community groups. The FNB Dance Umbrella, proudly sponsored by FNB, is the platform that reflects the vast diversity and creativity in contemporary dance in South Africa.

The FNB Dance Umbrella would like to thank our partners, who help make this possible: National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Supporting Grant from BASA, National Arts Council, The French Institute of South Africa, The Goethe Institute of South Africa, Pro Helvetia: Swiss Arts Council, Gauteng Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts & Culture, CULTURESFRANCE, French Embassy, The French Institute of Mozambique

Media Release: FNB Dance Umbrella 2007

MEDIA RELEASE: FNB DANCE UMBRELLA 2007

The FNB Dance Umbrella 2007 will be the 19th year that presents choreographers an open and free platform to show new contemporary works in various venues in Johannesburg.

From February 17 to March 17, 2007, Johannesburg will be abuzz with exciting new dance programmes at The Wits Theatre Complex, Jorissen Street, Braamfontein; Constitution Hill, Kotze Street in Braamfontein and the new Johannesburg University UJ Arts Centre in Auckland Park.

Stepping Stones 1 and 2 is on Saturday and Sunday, February 17 & 18 at the Wits Theatre from 10:00. These programmes are mainly youth and community based groups. The 3rd Stepping Stones programme will be at Uncle Tom’s in Soweto on Sunday, February 25 also from 10:00.

On Friday and Saturday February 23 & 24 at 19:00, the main festival opens at The Wits Theatre with a Mixed Bill featuring Acty Tang, Thabo Rapoo and Daniel Mashita. At 20:30 in the Wits Downstairs Theatre, is Tossie van Tonder with a new work called alfabet, which is a reflection of her life and where she is today.

Programme 6 on Monday and Tuesday, February 26 & 27 starts at 19:00 at the Wits Theatre. This programme is a new commissioned work from Gary Gordon entitled go. Gordon is the artistic director of First Physical Dance Theatre from Grahamstown.

Programme 7 is in the Wits Downstairs Theatre on February 26 & 27 at 20:15. A collaboration between German choreographer Gerda Konig and Kenyan artist Ondiege Matthew called CounterCircles, this work features dancers who are disabled, from both Germany and Kenya. This work has been brought to South Africa with assistance from the Goethe Institute, Johannesburg.

Programme 8 is Wrap Me Up a work by Swiss choreographers Katarzyna Gdaniec and Marco Cantalupo and the company Cie Linga in the Wits Theatre on February 28 and March 1 at 19:00. Wrap Me Up is about advertising and how it seduces the market. The work is presented at the FNB Dance Umbrella with assistance from Pro Helvetia: Swiss Arts Council.

Programme 9 at The Wits Amphitheatre on February 28 and March 1 at 20:30 is a new work from Peter van Heerden called 6 Mins. This work is a live installation piece which explores man’s continued struggles within himself…

Programme 10 is a special Gala Evening to be held on Friday, March 2, celebrating 19 years of the FNB Dance Umbrella! Hosted by First National Bank, this one-off programme will feature selected works by Sifiso E. Kweyama, Gerard Bester, Gregory Maqoma, Musa Hlatshwayo and David April.

Programme 11 is at the UJ Arts Centre on March 3 & 4 at 18:00 with a work called Encounters created by Gladys Agulhas. This work explores the various emotional and physical life journeys of people with different physical abilities.

Programme 12 on March 3 & 4 @ 20:00 at the UJ Centre for the Arts will host the much acclaimed Umthombi by Durban choreographer Musa Hlatshwayo and the winner of the African Indian Ocean Choreography competition 2006 Impro-Vise_2 by Andreya Ouamba from Burkina Faso.

Programme 13 is the New Moves Programme at the Wits Theatre from 14:00 on Sunday, March 4. This mixed bill features works from young up and coming choreographers, some of whom have participated in the Young Choreographers Residency programmes in the past two years.

Programme 14 is at The Wits Theatre on March 5 & 6 at 19:00. French choreographer Pascal Montrouge presents his new work called Os.

Programme 15 on Monday and Tuesday, March 5 & 6 at 20:00, a Mixed Bill programme at The UJ Centre for the Arts featuring Kelsey Middleton, David Matamela, Craig Morris & Roslyn Wood Morris, Belinda Nasser, Jayesperi Moopen, Bailey Snyman & Nicola Haskins, Reginald Danster and Mandla Bebeza.

Programme 16 on March 7 & 8 at 19:00 @ the Wits Amphitheatre is a Mixed Bill featuring works from Deborah Hay and Deidre Wood.

Programme 17, is on March 7 & 8 at 20:15 in The Wits Theatre. The programme includes Bodyscape by Moeketsi Koena and Extracts of x’s 2 by Sello Pesa. Hlengiwe Lushaba presents a new work called Lest We (I) Forget in the Wits Downstairs Theatre.

Programme 18 at The UJ Centre for the Arts on March 9 & 10 at 19:00 is a collaborative work by South African company Via Katlehong and French company Back to Hip Hop. Wola-Baba is a meeting of two cultures with backgrounds in Africa versus Europe, but which do find similarities. The work will be performed by Via Katlehong.

Programme 19 also in the UJ Centre for the Arts is on March 9 & 10 at 20:30. This double bill features Blankets of Shame by Sylvia Glasser and a new collaboration called Muramba between South African artist Sifiso E. Kweyama and Zimbabwean Gilbert Douglas.

Programme 20 on Sunday March 11 at 14:30 at the Wits Theatre is the 2nd New Moves programme which will again feature a variety of artists from all over South Africa.

Programme 21 on Monday and Tuesday, March 12 & 13 at 20:00 takes place at the UJ Centre for the Arts. Inside of me another Island is a creation from Mozambique based artist Panaibra Gabriel. This work talks about the “I’ and the other; between man and the actual being. This work won the 3rd prize in the African Indian Ocean Choreography Competition 2006.

Programme 22 is on Wednesday and Thursday, March 14 & 15 at the UJ Centre for the Arts from 20:00. Gregory Maqoma completes his Beautiful trilogy with Beautiful Me, a work inspired by Akram Khan, Faustin Linyekula and Vincent Mantsoe, choreographers he has collaborated with to create the piece.

Programme 23 on Friday and Saturday, March 16 & 17, takes place at Constitution Hill from 18:30 and again at 20:00. Jampass is choreographed by Ina Wiechterich for the Cape Town-based Remix Dance Theatre.

Programme 24 takes place in the Wits Downstairs Theatre also on March 16 & 17 at 19:15. This is a triple bill featuring Timothy Le Roux, Sifiso Majola and Aja Marnewick.

The final Programme 25 is at 20:30 at the Wits Theatre on March 16 & 17 with works from Constance Kau, Mdu Mtshali who both received the Phillip Stein Grant and Mlu Zondi from Durban.

Other highlights for FNB Dance Umbrella 2007 are The Gauteng MEC Awards for Contemporary Choreography and Dance 2006, which will be presented on Saturday, March 17, at the Wits Amphitheatre before the final performances.

The FNB Dance Umbrella 2007 will also include a Young Choreographers Residency Programme which has been funded by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund and the National Arts Council. This will take place from February 27 to March 11, 2007.

The FNB Dance Umbrella 2007 has been made possible with assistance from First National Bank; National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund; The French Institute of South Africa; French Cultural Centre Mozambique; CulturesFrance; Business and Arts South Africa; the National Arts Council; Pro-Helvetia Swiss Arts Council; The Goethe Institute of Johannesburg and the Gauteng Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts & Culture.

Tickets for the FNB Dance Umbrella are available at the door or can be booked at Computicket on 011 340 8000 and prices range from R20,00 to R80,00. Concessions/block bookings and subscription tickets are available.

For further information contact 011 482 4140 / 011 482 5615 or e-mail
danceumbrella@artslink.co.za

The Dance Umbrella hot-line for up-dates and programmes is 072 703 9332 or visit
www.artslink.co.za/arts

ENDS

Photos available
Issued by FNB Dance Umbrella
Tel: 011 482 4140
Fax: 011 482 6212
Cell: 082 570 3083 (Georgina)/ 083 263 6991 (Bridget)
E-mail:
danceumbrella@artslink.co.za
Buz Publicity: 011 673 4995/ 673 9272

Wednesday, February 7

Biography: Thabo Rapoo

Thabo Rapoo

Thabo Rapoo was born in Ga-Rankuwa, North-West of Pretoria on 19th September 1978. His dancing career began in 1997 with a Pantsula group, aMajita. The group incorporated acting with several forms of dance. In 1998, he met Tlokwe Sehume who invited Thabo to join his band, Medu. He learnt to play drums and percussion and in 2002 the band was nominated in three categories at the SAMA Awards. The same year, he auditioned for a scholarship at the Johannesburg Dance Foundation. He completed a three-year diploma in dance, which covered a wide range of styles, and was taught by the likes of Grayham Davies and Eugene Berry. He choreographed a solo for his graduation and also performed in the Arts Alive Festival in 2001. In 2002, Thabo entered two works in the FNB Vita Dance Umbrella. He subsequently performed his solo at the FNB Vita Dance Umdudo in Grahamstown in April 2002 and was invited to join MIDM as an aspirant. In December he conducted dance workshops in Francistown, Botswana, for the Botswana Music Camp, coordinated by David Slater. He was invited back in December 2003 and 2004. In 2003 he choreographed and performed a solo dance work, "Naga Ya Fsa" at the FNB Dance Umbrella, where he was also awarded Most Promising Male Dancer in a Contemporary Style for "Danceformation and Cementation". In November 2003, he was invited to take part in a Choreographic Residency initiated by the Dance Forum. As part of this initiative he choreographed his debut work on the Company, which was staged at the FNB Dance Umbrella ’04. The work was selected for the FNB Pick of the Dance Umbrella Festival at the Dance Factory. He currently performs as a member of the MIDM Performance Company and assists Nhlanhla Mahlangu as an Arts & Culture teacher at Thuto-ke-Maatla Comprehensive.

Biography: Sifiso E. Kweyama

Sifiso E. Kweyama

I firstly joined PHENDUKA Dance Theatre which was based in Durban in 1989 where I began my training under Alfred Hinkel (Artistic Director of Jazzart Dance Theatre in Cape Town). Whilst at Phenduka I performed a production called Gida Africa at the Playhouse Loft in 1990. In 1991 I joined Body And Soul Dance Company directed by Annett Veterlli and ... In 1992, I was invited to perform in David Kramer and Taliep Petersen’s musical “Poison” in Cape Town where I re-established my connection with Alfred Hinkel. Poison was performed at Capab 1992/1993

In 1993, I joined Jazzart Dance Theatre and resumed my training under Alfred Hinkel. While training at Jazzart I performed over 30 000 school children in the Western Cape.

As a member of this company, he developed into an extremely accomplished performer, appearing in the award-winning Jazzart productions of “Medea”, “Junction”, “uMoya Womzansi” and “Bolero”.

Dance, teaching and choreography has taken Sifiso to many parts of the world including Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Germany, Angola, Namibia, USA and Morocco.
While enjoying these international engagements, he has chosen to pursue his goal in Johannesburg passing the skills he has learnt over the years and train young performers for careers as professional artists and in 2004 established his own OKHELA Dance Theatre to fulfil his goals and created works such as The Language and Pictures On The Wall. He is currently choreographing a work called Muramba on Tumbuka Dance Company from Zimbabwe for the 2007 Dance Umbrella. In Johannesburg Sifiso has taught and choreographed for the companies such as Tshwane Dance Theatre, Ballet Theatre Afrikan and taught the 2005 trainees of Moving Into Dance Mophatong and The Dance Factory. He has been teaching part-time african dance at the Tshwane University Of Technology in Pretoria since 2005. Sifiso is currently an assistant director of the FNB Dance Umbrella Festival

In 2000 he was proud to be associated as a choreographer and a singer with the highly acclaimed production of “Moya Wa Sechaba” (starring Sibongile Khumalo, ZIP ZAP Circus and Jazzart) and was proud to feature as a singer alongside Ms. Khumalo. In 2001 he left for Durban where he re-established PHENDUKA Dance Theatre, with Sbonakaliso Ndaba and Ondine Bello. Whilst at PHENDUKA he Choreographed ‘Excuse Me!’: for Ballet Theatre Afrikan). ‘Recognition - An Every woman’s Story’: created for the South African Women’s Arts Festival 2001(Playhouse Drama Theatre, Durban) ‘The Sound That Comes Back To You from The World’: commissioned for the JOMBA! Dance Experience 2001. ‘Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered’: A collaboration between Durban’s dance companies: PHENDUKA Dance Theatre, Fantastic Flying Fish Dance Company, Siwela Sonke, Flatfoot Dance Company and The Floating Outfit Project (2001)

In 2003 Sifiso re-joined JAZZART Dance Theatre as a trainee artistic director. While at Jazzart he continued doing what he loves best teaching the Jazzart trainees and the company and co-choreographing Klipfontein Corridor Project involving about 80 children from the Western Cape primary schools and a highly acclaimed JAZZART and MAGNET Theatre production Rain In A Dead Man’s Footsprints.

Biography: Peter Van Heerden

Peter Van Heerden

1. EDUCATION

INSTITUTION : St. Stithians College, Johannesburg
DATE: 1986-1990
ACHIEVEMENTS:

Awarded colors for Rugby and Water-polo
Awarded honors for Rugby and Water-Polo
School Prefect
Awarded Transvaal colors for Water-polo
Awarded South African Schools colors for Water-Polo

INSTITUTION: Rhodes University, Grahamstown
DATE: 1991-1994
ACHIEVEMENTS:

Awarded Bachelor of Arts specializing in Drama and Classical Civilizations
Awarded Sports Bursary
Awarded Eastern Province Colors for Water-polo

INSTITUTION: The Permaculture Research Institute
DATE: 2000
ACHIEVEMENTS: Permaculture Design Certificate

INSTITUTION: University of Cape Town
DATE: 2003-2004
ACHIEVEMENTS: MA Theatre and Performance with Distinction

INSTITUTION: Damelin Education Group
DATE: 2003
ACHIEVEMENTS: Certificate in Train-the Trainer

2. PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE

RHODES UNIVERSITY, GRAHAMSTOWN

1992 Edward II, Directed by David Alcock
1993 The Good Person of Sczezuan, Directed by Andrew Buckland Black Tie, Choreographed by Sarah Tudge
1994 Riots of Passage, choreographed by Sarah Tudge, presented in Grahamstown and at The FNB Dance Umbrella in Johannesburg

THE FIRST PHYSICAL THEATRE COMPANY
1993: Manifesto I and II, Choreographed by Gary Gordon and Andrew Buckland, presented at the National Arts Festival
1994: Shattered Windows, choreographed by Gary Gordon, presented at the National Arts Festival, The FNB Vita Dance Umbrella and Arts Alive Festival
Travellers, choreographed by Gary Gordon, presented at National Arts Festival
Baby John, choreographed by Gary Gordon, presented at The National Arts Festival

THE HEEL ARTS COLLECTIVE
1995: Boere Seuns met Biltong, presented at The FNB Vita Dance Indaba
1996: The Space Between, choregraphed by Jenni Davies, presented at The FNB Vita Dance Umbrella
Chasing the Dragon, choreographed by Sarah Tudge, presented at The FNB Vita Dance Umbrella
The Smell of Roses, choreographed by Yoke van der Klink, presented at National Arts Festival
Heritage Day District Six-Sculpture Festival
Selling Air, choreographed by The Heel Arts Collective, presented at The FNB Vita Dance Indaba
1997: The Heel Arts Collective Winter Season, presented at Castle of Good Hope
1X1=1, choreographed by Sarah Tudge, presented at The FNB Vita Dance Indaba
Alice, choreoraphed by Sarah Tudge and commissioned by The Arts and Culture Trust of The President

3. CHOREOGRAPHY
1998: Boere Seuns met Biltong, performed at The FNB Vita Dance Indaba, by The Heel Arts Collective
1999: Between a Fridge and a Cupboard, presented at The National Arts Festival by The Heel Arts collective
2001: Native Costume, presented at The FNB Vita Dance Indaba, performed by City Varsity Acting second year Acting students
2003: Getting Out of It-is Second Nature, presented as minor project in fulfilment of MA in Theatre and Performance
2004: so is ‘n os gemaak, performance art work presented at The National Arts Festival 2004
2005: so is ‘n os gemaak, performance art work presented at FNB Dance Umbrella 2005

4. DIRECTING
2000: Alice, performed by The Heel Arts Collective and Choreographed by Sarah Tudge
2002: Arturou/Chiaroscuro, in collaboration with Aletta Bezuidenhout and City varsity, presented at The National Arts Festival
2003: Ananke, in collaboration with Marisa Sarfatti and City Varsity, presented at The National Arts Festival
2004: Valparaiso, by Don DeLillo, presented as medium project in fulfilment of MA in Theatre and Performance UCT.
2004: TOTANDERKUNTUIT, live art installation presented at The National Arts Festival 2004

5. EDUCATIONAL THEATRE
1996-1997: The Mystical Meanderings of Jessica Fudgerumple, an interactive children’s show exploring Environmental Awareness, presented at The National Arts Festival and schools in Gauteng and The Western Cape
2001-2002: S.E.E.D.(School Environmental Education and Development), the integration of Permaculture into classroom practice using Drama and Dance, presented at schools in the Cape Flats

6. FILM
1997: Evolution of Man, a 7minute short, Directed by Brad Schaffer
1996: Selling Air, Lost in Translation and Consumed, a Documentary on The Heel Arts Collective, Directed by Brad Schaffer
2003: Long Walk, two-minute movie shot in collaboration with Rat Art
2004: Boxing Sahdows, seven-minute film shot in collaboration with Brad Hale
2004: so is’n os gemaak, twelve-minute film production of so is ‘n os gemaak in collaboration with Rat Art
2006: BOK, 7 minute short film in collaboration with Rat Art

7. CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
1998: Improvisation and Basic Acting Syllabus for Diploma in Acting for Camera
2001: Movement Syllabus for Diploma in Acting for the Camera
2001: Adapted Movement for the Camera Syllabus created by Lanon Prigge
2002: Foundations in S.E.E.D., the integration of Permaculture into classroom practice for Foundation Phase
2002: Classroom Practice, the integration of Foundations in S.E.E.D. into the classroom using Drama and Dance
2003: Adapted and implemented Live Performance Syllabus

8. EXHIBITIONS/INSTALLATIONS
2003 Circus of Desire, live art installation at Y-Desire, Castle of Good Hope
2004
http://www.trekker.co.za, installation and launch of website at Bell-Roberts Gallery, Cape Town
2005 so is ‘n os gemaak, "Urban Edge", RedEye/Durban Designers Collection, City Hall, Durban Art Gallery

9. EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
EMPLOYER: City Varsity Film and Television and Multimedia School
DATE: 2003-2006
POSITION: Full time Lecturer in Live Performance

EMPLOYER: Food and Trees for Africa
DATE: July 2003
POSITION: Regional Judge for Edu-Plant competition

EMPLOYER: City Varsity Film and Television and Multimedia School
DATE: 2001-2002 (Part-time)
POSITION: Lecturer in Movement and Improvisation

EMPLOYER: The S.E.E.D. Project
DATE: 2001-2002 (Part-time)
POSITION: Outreach Co-ordinator

EMPLOYER: The Permaculture Research Institute (Australia)
DATE: 2000
POSITION: Project Manager

EMPLOYER: National Chung Ching University (Taiwan)
DATE: 1999 (Part-time)
POSITION: English Teacher

EMPLOYER: Little Lilly Montessori Kindergarten (Taiwan)
DATE: 1999
POSITION: English Teacher

EMPLOYER: City Varsity Film and Television and Multimedia School
DATE: 1998
POSITION: Senior Lecturer in Movement and Improvisation

EMPLOYER: The Heel Arts Collective
DATE: 1996-1998
POSITION: Collaborative Artistic Director

EMPLOYER: Community Arts Project
DATE: 1996-1997 (contract work)
POSISTION: Drama and Movement Facilitator

EMPLOYER: The First Physical Theatre Company
DATE: 1994-1995
POSISTION: Performer

Biography: Musa Hlatshwayo

Musa Hlatshwayo

Musa Hlatshwayo was born and raised in Maphumulo in KwaZulu Natal In South Africa. He currently holds a BA Honours in Performance Studies:University of KwaZulu Natal (SA) – 2002, Dance & Choreography Diploma: Copenhagen School of Modern Dance (Denmark), Postgraduate Certificate in Dance In Education: UKZN (SA), a BA in Media and Comm: UKZN (SA).

As a dancer Musa has appeared with all of Durban’s contemporary dance companies and has also worked with Lebohang Dance Theatre, First Physical Theatre Company as well as Moving Hands Theatre Company based in Birmingham in the UK. He is KZN Dancelink & Durban Dance Awards’ Best performer for the year 2004/ 5.

As a dance educator, Musa is involved as a one of KZN Dancelink and Cato Manor Vibe!!’s teachers and has also taught and coordinated Project Hheshe Nsizwa!! in Durban. He has also worked at the University of KwaZulu Natal’s Drama Department as a tutor in dance, drama and participatory theatre.

As a choreographer his existing repertoire include, Ozelweyo- 2005, Umthombi – 2004, Imbokodo; The Tribe of She – 2004, An untitled performance piece with Clive van Den Berge’s Family Tree – 2003, Amashinga – 2003, Abakhwetha – 2002.

His recent achievements as a choreographer include being selected twice to participate in AFAA’s choreographic encounters in Madagascar and Paris, a nomination for the National Arts Festival’s Standard Bank’s Young Choreographers for 2005/6, 2005’s KZN Dance link and Durban Dance Awards’ Choreography of the Year nomination for ‘Umthombi’.

Biography: Mdu Mtshali

Mdu Mtshali

Mdu Mtshali was born and raised in Kwamashu, and trained in dance and drama at the Durban University of Technology and obtained a National Diploma in Drama Studies.In 2002 was awarded the Rio Tinto Richards Bay Mineral/ Brithish Council dance scholarship to study in the UK at the London Contemporary Dance School and Obtained a certificate of Higher Education in Contemporary dance from University of Kent in Canterbury.

Since becoming a professional dancer, in 1999 he traveled with Jean Francious Duroure (what are you doing here) to France, Germany, Netherlands, Congo, Bukina Faso, Guinee, Gabon, Senegal, Abidjan, Ghana when he returned he did Piece in the Valley Musical Directed by Jerry Pooe and traveled with to New York and in Canada. Mdu has worked with a number of dance companies and choreographers including Siwela Sonke (Jay Pather), Fantastic Flying Fish Dance Company, Inzalo Theatre Dance Company, African Footprint in Sibaya Casino.In the UK he has worked with Magdelen Hayes from Germany, Andile Sotiya and he traveled to Denmark with Edge LCDS post graduate student company. He choreographed and performed a solo work (Somewhere in my head)for Jomba 2003,Participated in the FNB Dance Umbrella Residency 2004, traveled to Mumbai(India)to perform in the World Social Forum with Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre, received a young choreographers grant to create a new work (Unknown citizen) for FNB Dance Umbrella in 2005 and Uprising Soul in 2006.,his latest choreography was presented at Jomba 2006 as a work in progress.

Mdu is currently working as a Dance Lecturer at the Durban University of Technology in Drama Department and as a movement Lecturer at University of Natal Edgewood College. He is also working with the Children of Cato Manor (catomanor vibe) teaching and choreographing for this outreach programme run by Fantastic Flying Fish Dance Company with a funding from the Royal Netherlands Embassy. Mdu has been awarded a Philip Stein grant to create a new work at the FNB Dance Umbrella 2007 and he has completed a module on (HOLIT) Holistic Learning and Integrated Teaching at the Durban University of Technology, Centre of Higher Education and Training

Biography: Ina Wiechterich

Ina Wiechterich

Ina was born in and schooled in Europe. She began her dance training at the dance academy in Cologne. She danced for the Aurinko Baletti (Finland) and was a member of the Folwang Tanzstudio under Malou Airaudo in Essen, Germany and a guest performer with the Wuppertahaler Tanztheater of Pina Bausch. Ina has also danced in America, Russia and Asia.

She relocated to Cape Town in 1999, she is currently teacher and choreographer for Jazzart Dance Theatre and performs and teaches the Argentine tango with Mark Hoebern. Ina has been closely associated with the work of Vleis Rys en Aartappels as performer and choreographer, most recently for the award winning production ALTYD JONKER. She has opened a magnificent light-filled studio space in Cape Town with her husband Owen Manamela.

Biography: Gregory Vuyani Maqoma

Gregory Vuyani Maqoma

Gregory Maqoma, founder and artistic director of Vuyani Dance Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa. Trained both in South Africa and Belgium. As a Choreographer, Teacher, Dancer, Artistic Consultant and Director, has taught and presented work in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, Mexico, Finland, Burkina Faso, Austria, Nigeria, France, USA and South Africa. He has won several awards, accolades and nominations in South Africa and Internationally including FNB Dance Umbrella Choreographer of The Year, Standard Bank Young Artist of The Year, Rolex Mentor and Protégé Award Finalist, Daimler Chrysler Choreography Award Finalist, Gauteng MEC Award. Maqoma also serve as Associate Artistic Director for Moving Into Dance and as Artistic Director of The Afro Vibes Festival in the Netherlands. Teaches at several institutions in South Africa, Europe and USA. Recently Maqoma collaborated with Faustin Linyekula Ngoyi (Congo), Akram Khan (UK) and Vincent Mantsoe (SA) on his last part of Beautiful Trilogy, Beautiful Me.

Biograpyhy: Gladys Agulhas

Gladys Agulhas

Founder/Choreographer/Dance Practitioner and independent performer, nominee for the Daimler Chrysler Contemporary Choreography Award 2003. Gladys studied Ballet at a young age at Albertus Pop recreation centre in Eldorado Park south of Johannesburg. She continued her Dance training and teaching at the Johannesburg Dance Foundation where she completes her 3 year intensive course. Ex-senior dancer for the former Johannesburg Dance Theatre. She won her first FNB Vita AWARD in 1990 and was recipient of the Women’s Day Award in Eldorado Park for the promotion of Arts in the community.

Agulhas has a long history of involvement with Dance in Education, and is co-founder of the Kliptwon Arts Foundation a community arts project based in Eldorado Park, was involved in teaching at various institutions and companies such as Moving Into Dance, Market Lab, Johannesburg Dance Foundation, National School of the Arts, Adelaide Tambo school for Special needs,etc. In 1999 she was involved in Shuttle 99, Dance Education Ex-change programme between the Nordic countries and South Africa. Agulhas also played a mayor role in the facilitating of Outreach programmes for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre during they visit to schools and community centres in Johannesburg.

In 2000 she won numerous FNB Vita Contemporary Choreography and Dance Awards recognising her work in Gauteng. She studied Integrated Contemporary Dance Teaching with renowned teacher/Independent Artist Adam Benjamin. And was rehearsal director for Tshwaragano In -Touch Integrated Dance Company 2000 /1 national & international tour.

Gladys also presented 'Solo" works for various functions such as at the Embassy of Finland, British Council, V-Day Monologues, Women Arts Festivals Gauteng & Durban’s Human Rights Commission in Helderfontein.

She presented a paper in collaboration with Remix dance Project at the Confluence Conference in Cape Town on Choreography with Physical Challenge Dancers. And was also the recipient of the 2001 FNB Vita Dance Umbrella Young Choreographers Award.
She has also devised a "Referees Society Special Training Programme "for the Golden Lions Rugby Union Academy 2002, and is still actively involve with the Union. Agulhas premiered her first international collaboration with fellow artist Louise Katerega(UK) funded by FNB Vita Dance Umbrella & Arts Council of England during the FNB Vita Dance Umbrella 2003.Her company ATW performed at the opening of the 2003 disABILTY Consultative Conference ACCESS-AWARENESS -ARTS at Museum Africa, and presented Integrated Workshops for the delegates. Gladys is a member of WoVA (Women’s Voice Arts Africa) an international organisation based in Senegal, Africa, to encourage and support efforts of women cultural leaders and artist in Africa, she attend this African planning meeting in Senegal during March this year.


Her recent international travels to Switzerland & London included a residency programme of improvisation and Integrated work with renowned Independent Artist Adam Benjamin as part of her innovative determination to pursue her goal within the arts. Her company recently returned
from the Grahamstown National Arts Festival after a very successful season on its main programme.

A new collaboration with musician Louis Mhlanga made headlines during the Women’s Arts Festival 2003 at the Dance Factory. She also currently worked on presentations for various Charity organisations such as “We are capable” a disability newspaper and Hospice home for the terminal ill. Recently retured from Switzerland,Bern after a very successful performance and presentation of workshops at the “SHARP! SHARP! Festival.

Currently working with her Company ATW- Agulhas Theatre Works on various Collaborations with Different Companies (Vuyani Dance Theatre, Tshwane Leadership Foundation, Music Incorporation, Soweto Deaf Women Dancers, US Africa) & Individual Artist (Adam McKinney, US dancer & Choreographer).

EVENTS 2006
* Gladys Agulhas Choreographed a SCENE of 10 minutes for THE TELKOM CHARITY CUP -5TH August 2006, scene of 200 children and Youth with different disabilities.
* ATW-TOUR to Holland
* ATW – recruited two trainees into the Companies Outreach programmes & performance events
* ATW – coordinated the World Disability DAY 2006 at MuseumAfrica 2006
* ATW Performed at the official opening of the Disability conference in Gauteng.
* ATW was also part of the International Disability Conference and Entertainment Held in Durban at the ICC.
* ATW- Satellite –Closing

2007- Events
* FNB Dance Umbrella 2007
* ATW- Satellite- Exchange programmes with various international institutions.
* Outreach Programme & Performances – Playhouse Durban.

Biography: Gary Gordon

Professor Gary Gordon
Department of Drama, Rhodes University, Grahamstown

Gary Gordon lives in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape where he is Professor of the Drama Department at Rhodes University. Here he has developed the practice, teaching and research of choreography, physical performance and contemporary dance. In Grahamstown, he also founded the First Physical Theatre Company in 1993. This was the first physical theatre company in South Africa, and a company now noted for its theatrical collaboration, choreographic innovation, education and development, arts management and theatre research.

He specialised in dance studies at Laban in London where he obtained a Masters Degree in choreography. From 1989 to 1992 was a member of the teaching faculty and gained extensive experience as an educator, choreographer and performer in Europe and the United Kingdom. He was Co-ordinator of Choreographic Studies at Laban and worked with a number of leading British choreographers.

Gordon was the first recipient of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for contemporary dance (1989) – an award acknowledging his choreography and outstanding contribution to dance in South Africa. He was awarded FNB Choreographer of the Year for Shattered Windows (1994), FNB Most Outstanding Presentation of an Original Contemporary Dance Work for The Unspeakable Story (1996), and a FNB Vita Special Award for Choreography for Bessie’s Head (2000). He was the first recipient of the Eastern Cape Premier’s Award for Choreographic Excellence (2000), and was awarded the Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Teaching (2000).

Last year he re-constructed First Physical’s acclaimed and moving dance play Bessie’s Head with performances in Cape Town, Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth and Gaborone. Further collaborations led to his choreographing the provocative and haunting Vrypas with performances at the KKNK Festival, Oudtshoorn and the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown. He still continues to work as a performer and appeared in Juanita Finestone-Praeg’s highly successful 16 Kinds of Emptiness. At the moment he is determined to secure a firm financial basis for First Physical to continue the celebration of professional choreography and dance performance in the Eastern Cape.

Biography: Smolly Daniel Mashita

SMOLLY’ DANIEL MASHITA

'Smolly' Daniel Mashita: Mashita began at the Johannesburg Dance Foundation. From there he went on to the Soweto Dance Project. Before joining VDT in 2003 he was with the Soweto Dance Theatre. As a touring company Smolly has been part of VDT's itinerary both internationally and nationally. Other than showing potential as a promising choreographer Mashita alternate with Gregory Maqoma in running company held dance workshops and open classes. He was nominated as most outstanding male dancer for the Gauteng MEC Awards in 2006.

Biography: Constance Mcunu

CONSTANCE MCUNU

1. EDUCATION
Name of School: Tsogo High School
Grade Passed: Matriculation - 1992


2. TERTIARY EDUCATION

a) Current Studies:
Institution: UNISA
Course: National Diploma in Public Relations

b) Completed Studies:
Institution: Academy International
Course: MS Office

Institution: UNISA Centre for Business Management
Course: Business Management
Subjects Passed: Business Management, Marketing Management, Human Resource Management, Self Management, Information Technology, Management Principles, Business Accounting and Finance

Institution: Moving Into Dance
Qualification: Community Teacher’s Training Diploma (SAQA Accredited)
Subjects Passed: Methods of Teaching, Child Development, Anthropology of Dance, Anatomy and Physiology, Creative Movement, Jazz, Contemporary Dance, African Dance, Afrofusion, Music, Choreography

* In 2001 I studied advanced Anthropology of Dance and wrote a thesis of 60 pages
on “Women in Dance”.

Institution: Media Concepts
Course: Television Presenting

Subjects Passed: On-cue Presenting, News Reading, Magazine Programme Presenting, Interviewing, Voice over

Institution: University of North West
Course: BA Communication
Subjects: Communications 1, Communications 2, Psychology, English Literature, Sociology, Journalism
*I did not complete the degree

e) Certificates Obtained:

Diploma in the Theory and Practice of Dance Teaching
Certificate of Achievement in Television Presenting

Certificate in Public Speaking
Long service, loyalty and dedication from Moving Into Dance(my former employer)

4. EMPLOYMENT DETAILS

a) Position: Dancer, Teacher, Dance Competitor
Name of Company: North West Arts Council
Duration: 1993 – 1994

b) Position: Dancer, Teacher, Rehearsal Director
Name of Company: Moving Into Dance
Duration: 1997 - 2004
Duties: Perform nationally and internationally
Conduct rehearsals for the Performance Company
Teach dance classes (Contemporary dance, Body Conditioning, African-Contemporary Dance,

Creative Movement)
Teach edu-dance in Schools

Administer in Public Relations duties
Ad hoc reception duties.
Publicity (TV, radio, newspaper and magazine interviews to market and promote the company)

*I have travelled different parts of Africa, Europe, Asia and America.

c) Position: Public Relations Officer, Marketer and Dancer
Name of Company: Tshwane Dance Theatre
Duration: 2005 – to date
Duties: Promote and publicise the company
Market the company
Produce and direct educational projects
Perform, teach and choreograph dance

5. OTHER EXPERIENCES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

1998: Worked with a Swedish choreographer, Chritina Capriole and a French choreographer. I was in a musical “Nkosi” directed by Sello Maake ka Ncube

1999 – 2002: Worked with a Canadian choreographer, Joe Lughlen and we toured different cities in Canada with the production. I choreographed for Miss Ukhozi F.M 2000

2004: Worked with a Swiss choreographer, Gilles Jobin, Abdul Aziz from Amsterdam, Holland Jay Pather from Durban Mandla Mcunu, director of Tshwane Dance Theatre Jaunita from Grahamstown, Collaborated with Hugh Masekela, Vusi Mahlasela, Busi Mhlongo and Jabu Khanyile for South Africa’s 10 years of Democracy in Washington D. C

2006: Worked with Tyrone Watkins and Jerry Mofokeng on the unveiling of the 2010 Soccer World Cup logo and the handing over of the World Cup to South Africa in Germany.

* I have appeared in a couple of music videos and have choreographed for other corporate functions.
* I teach body conditioning/aerobics (strengthening, stretching, cardiovascular) as well

6. CHOREOGRAPHY
1999: “Breath Power” a solo that I performed
2000: “Schairing” for Moving Into Dance Company
2001: “Cos I’m a Woman a solo I performed for Woman’s festival
2003: “Need to Want” a duet commisioned by FNB Dance Umbrella
2004: “Oddessey” a solo for Dada Masilo who is currently studying dance in Brussels
2005: “Dust to Dust” for Tshwane Dance Theatre
2006: “Phenomenon” for Tshwane Dance Theatre

7. AWARDS OBTAINED
1999: Most Promising Female Dancer in contemporary style at the FNB Dance Umbrella
2001: Nominated for the Best Female Dancer in contemporary style at the FNB Dance Umbrella
2006: FNB Dance Umbrella has awarded me with a grant to choreograph a new work for 2007

8. REFERENCES (available on request)

Media Release: Residency Choreographic Programme

MEDIA RELEASE: RESIDENCY CHOREOGRAPHIC PROGRAMME

In 2003 Georgina Thomson was invited to attend Montpellier Dance Festival in France. During this festival a young residency programme was held there and on her return Georgina decided to start one here in South Africa. The residency programme was born in 2003.

This year we have received financial assistance from the National Arts Council. and the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund to make the programme a success.

The aim of the residency is to discover new ways of creating work, to shift and develop up and coming choreographers by giving them skills and artistic ideas on creating new works. This platform will serve as a network for artists to get to know each other, experiment new styles of dance and talk about the improvement of the arts particularly dance.

Professor Gary Gordon from Eastern Cape Town and Alfred Hinkel from Cape Town are the main facilitators who will be conducting the residency programme. Teachers who will take part are Constance Kau-Mcunu, David April, Gregory Maqoma and Sifiso E. Kweyama. The residency workshops will take place at the Melville Kruisgemeente Hall from the 27th of February to the 11th of March 2007.

Our participants this year are:
Mcebisi Bhayi Lungile Magagula
Ntsane Mopeli Mduduzi Mkhethi
Tladi Moletsane Gift Mlambo
Sifiso Majola Benjamin Peea
Jonas Byaruhanga Thabang Ramaila

Songezo Mcilizeli Margaret Makoka

Most of the participants are based in Johannesburg however Jonas Byaruhanga is from Uganda, Mcebisi Bhayi from Eastern Cape and Sifiso Majola from Durban. Our participants have attended established schools and institutions like Phenduka Dance Theatre, Moving into Dance and Sibikwa Arts Centre.

Should you require any additional information, please contact Sifiso E. Kweyama at 011 482-5615 or 083 990 8890 or okhela@artslink.co.za


Visit www.artslink.co.za/arts for updated programme schedules.


The FNB Dance Umbrella 2007 has been made possible with assistance from First National Bank; The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, the French Institute of South Africa; Business and Arts South Africa; the National Arts Council, Pro-Helvetia Swiss Arts Council, The Netherlands Embassy and the Gauteng Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts & Culture. ==================================

Media Release: Commissioned Artists

MEDIA RELEASE: COMMISSIONED ARTISTS

The 19th FNB Dance Umbrella runs from February 17 to March 17, 2007 at several venues in Johannesburg: The Wits Theatre, Jorissen Street, Braamfontein; The Johannesburg University Theatre Complex, Auckland Park and Constitutional Hill in Braamfontein.

The FNB Dance Umbrella 2007 will be a highlight on all dance-lovers’ calendars. It will feature 25 programmes of work representative of all forms of contemporary choreography and dance in this country.

Included in the FNB Dance Umbrella 2007, are the following commissioned works.

The opening programme on Friday and Saturday February 23 & 24 at 19:00 at The Wits Theatre features three commissioned works from young artists: Daniel Mashita will premiere his new work called 2 Soul’z. He is joined by Moving into Dance company member Thabo Rapoo with a work called xiif-hunger.

Programme 4, is on February 23 @ 24 at 20:30 in The Wits Downstairs Theatre and it features Tossie van Tonder in a new work alfabet. This work is an autobiographical portrayal of the artist’s life and reflects on her role as a mother and a dancer.

Programme 6 is in The Wits Theatre on February 26 & 27 at 19:00. It features First Physical Dance Theatre performing a new work Go from Gary Gordon who is based in Grahamstown. This work also reflects on the artist’s life and the changes in the last years.

Programme 7 on February 26 & 27 at 20:15 at Wits Downstairs Theatre, is a collaborative work between German choreographer Gerda Konig and Kenyan artist Ondiege Matthew. CounterCircles looks at living life in a isolated cage and also features disabled dancers.

Programme 8 is on February 28 and March 1 at the Wits Theatre at 19:00. Swiss Dance Company Cie Linga present a work titled emballe-moi (wrap me up). In this piece the choreographers and performers throw a light on the seducing techniques of Advertising, at the service of the consumer society.

Programme 9 is on February 28 and March 1 at 20:30 with a work called 6 minutes by Peter van Heerden. Using elements from a live art installation, the artist investigates the fact that through mans continued struggle with himself and his masculinity, atrocities will continue to be committed.

Programme 11 is at the UJ Arts Centre on March 3 & 4 at 18:00. Encounters by Gladys Agulhas, explores and expresses the various emotional and physical life journeys of people.

Programme 12, is on March 3 & 4 in UJ Arts Centre at 20:00 and features Durban-based Musa Hlatshwayo with a work called Umthombi. This dance theatre narrative follows a metaphoric journey of a young man to manhood and his traditional identity. The second work on this programme is Impro-Vise_2 by Andreya Ouamba from Burkina Faso which won the African Indian Ocean Choreography Competition 2006.


Programme 18, is on March 9 & 10 at 19:00 in The UJ Arts Centre and features a collaborative work between South African Company Via Katlehong and French company Back to Hip-Hop. Wola-Baba is the meeting of two different cultures with backgrounds in Africa versus Europe. This work received a Dance Forum Grant.

Programme 19 is a double bill programme on March 9 & 10 at 20:30. Sylvia Glasser presents her controversial work Blankets of Shame with the Moving into Dance Mophatong Company. This work lifts the blankets of silence, stigma and denial that hide women and child abuse. Sharing the programme is a new collaborative work from Sifiso E. Kweyama from South Africa and Tumbuka Dance Company director, Gilbert Douglas called Muramba.

Programme 22 on March 14 & 15 in UJ Arts Centre features Gregory Maqoma with the final work in his “Beautiful trilogy”, Beautiful Me. Here Maqoma challenges the notion of dance by working with three very successful artists Akram Khan, Faustin Linyekula and Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe.

Programme 23 is a work by Ina Wiechterich called Jampass, created for the Remix Dance in Cape Town. Directed by national and international award winning artists Jaco Bouwer, this work takes place in Constitution Hill on March 16 & 17 at 18:30 and 20:00.

Programme 24 is at The Wits Downstairs Theatre on March 16 & 17 at 19:00. The commissioned work on this programme is Open White, Fade to Black by Timothy le Roux. His work explores the role of the “colored” woman in South Africa. Le Roux was one of the Dance Forum Grant recipients.

The final Programme 25 is at the Wits Theatre on March 16 & 17 at 20:30. The two recipients of the Phillip Stein Grant, Constance Kau and Mlu Zondi will present the new works they have created with the grant.

Tickets for the festival can be bought from Computicket on 011 340 8000 and prices range from R20,00 to R80,00. Concessions/block bookings and subscription tickets are available.

For futher information contact 011 482 4140/ 011 482 5179/ 482 5615 or e-mail
danceumbrella@artslink.co.za

Visit www.artslink.co.za/arts for updated programme schedules.

The FNB Dance Umbrella 2007 has been made possible with assistance from First National Bank; the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund; The French Institute of South Africa; CulturesFrance; French Cultural Centre, Mozambique; the Goethe Institute of Johannesburg; Business and Arts South Africa; the National Arts Council; Pro-Helvetia Swiss Arts Council and the Gauteng Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts & Culture.
Photos available

Media Queries:
Bridget Van Oerle / Ferial Moola / Anele Sigidi
BUZ PUBLICITY
011 673 4995 / 9272
info@buz.co.za

Media Release: Commissioned Artists

MEDIA RELEASE:COMMISSIONED ARTISTS

The 19th FNB Dance Umbrella runs from February 17 to March 17, 2007 at several venues in Johannesburg: The Wits Theatre, Jorissen Street, Braamfontein; The Johannesburg University Theatre Complex, Auckland Park and Constitutional Hill in Braamfontein.

The FNB Dance Umbrella 2007 will be a highlight on all dance-lovers’ calendars. It will feature 25 programmes of work representative of all forms of contemporary choreography and dance in this country.

Included in the FNB Dance Umbrella 2007, are the following commissioned works.

The opening programme on Friday and Saturday February 23 & 24 at 19:00 at The Wits Theatre features three commissioned works from young artists: Daniel Mashita will premiere his new work called 2 Soul’z. He is joined by Moving into Dance company member Thabo Rapoo with a work called xiif-hunger.

Programme 4 is on February 23 @ 24 at 20:30 in The Wits Downstairs Theatre and it features Tossie van Tonder in a new work alfabet. This work is an autobiographical portrayal of the artist’s life and reflects on her role as a mother and a dancer.

Programme 6 is in The Wits Theatre on February 26 & 27 at 19:00. It features First Physical Dance Theatre performing a new work Go from Gary Gordon who is based in Grahamstown. This work also reflects on the artist’s life and the changes in the last years.

Programme 7 on February 26 & 27 at 20:15 at Wits Downstairs Theatre, is a collaborative work between German choreographer Gerda Konig and Kenyan artist Ondiege Matthew. CounterCircles looks at living life in a isolated cage and also features disabled dancers.

Programme 8 is on February 28 and March 1 at the Wits Theatre at 19:00. Swiss Dance Company Cie Linga present a work titled emballe-moi (wrap me up). In this piece the choreographers and performers throw a light on the seducing techniques of Advertising, at the service of the consumer society.

Programme 9 is on February 28 and March 1 at 20:30 with a work called 6 minutes by Peter van Heerden. Using elements from a live art installation, the artist investigates the fact that through mans continued struggle with himself and his masculinity, atrocities will continue to be committed.

Programme 11 is at the UJ Arts Centre on March 3 & 4 at 18:00. Encounters by Gladys Agulhas, explores and expresses the various emotional and physical life journeys of people.

Programme 12 is on March 3 & 4 in UJ Arts Centre at 20:00 and features Durban-based Musa Hlatshwayo with a work called Umthombi. This dance theatre narrative follows a metaphoric journey of a young man to manhood and his traditional identity. The second work on this programme is Impro-Vise_2 by Andreya Ouamba from Burkina Faso which won the African Indian Ocean Choreography Competition 2006.


Programme 18, is on March 9 & 10 at 19:00 in The UJ Arts Centre and features a collaborative work between South African Company Via Katlehong and French company Back to Hip-Hop. Wola-Baba is the meeting of two different cultures with backgrounds in Africa versus Europe. This work received a Dance Forum Grant.

Programme 19 is a double bill programme on March 9 & 10 at 20:30. Sylvia Glasser presents her controversial work Blankets of Shame with the Moving into Dance Mophatong Company. This work lifts the blankets of silence, stigma and denial that hide women and child abuse. Sharing the programme is a new collaborative work from Sifiso E. Kweyama from South Africa and Tumbuka Dance Company director, Gilbert Douglas called Muramba.

Programme 22 on March 14 & 15 in UJ Arts Centre features Gregory Maqoma with the final work in his “Beautiful trilogy”, Beautiful Me. Here Maqoma challenges the notion of dance by working with three very successful artists Akram Khan, Faustin Linyekula and Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe.

Programme 23 is a work by Ina Wiechterich called Jampass, created for the Remix Dance in Cape Town. Directed by national and international award winning artists Jaco Bouwer, this work takes place in Constitution Hill on March 16 & 17 at 18:30 and 20:00.

Programme 24 is at The Wits Downstairs Theatre on March 16 & 17 at 19:00. The commissioned work on this programme is Open White, Fade to Black by Timothy le Roux. His work explores the role of the “colored” woman in South Africa. Le Roux was one of the Dance Forum Grant recipients.

The final Programme 25 is at the Wits Theatre on March 16 & 17 at 20:30. The two recipients of the Phillip Stein Grant, Constance Kau and Mlu Zondi will present the new works they have created with the grant.

Tickets for the festival can be bought from Computicket and prices range from R20,00 to R80,00. Concessions/block bookings and subscription tickets are available.

For futher information contact 011 482 4140/ 011 482 5179/ 482 5615 or e-mail
danceumbrella@artslink.co.za

Visit www.artslink.co.za/arts for updated programme schedules.

The FNB Dance Umbrella 2007 has been made possible with assistance from First National Bank; the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund; The French Institute of South Africa; CulturesFrance; French Cultural Centre, Mozambique; the Goethe Institute of Johannesburg; Business and Arts South Africa; the National Arts Council; Pro-Helvetia Swiss Arts Council and the Gauteng Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts & Culture.
Photos available

Media Queries:
Bridget Van Oerle / Ferial Moola / Anele Sigidi
BUZ PUBLICITY
011 673 4995 / 9272
info@buz.co.za

Media Release: International Companies & Collaborations

MEDIA RELEASE: INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES

The FNB Dance Umbrella 2007 will celebrate its 19th year on the international map as a platform for works from both local and international companies.

This year the festival will host several foreign companies and collaborations which include:

CounterCircles will be presented in the Wits Downstairs Theatre on February 26 & 27 @ 20:15. This is a Germany/Kenya collaboration choreographed by Gerda Konig from DIN A 13 Dance Company who was assisted by Ondiege Matthew from Kenya as co-choreographer. CounterCircles reflects about life isolated in cages like tiny elements of an enormous clock. Men become chickens, poor become divas…. In unremitting, surreal and funny scenes, power plays with powerlessness, tradition meets modernity and mysticism merges with Kenyan reality. The DIN A 13 dance company developed the piece as part of the ‘Dance meets differences’ project in Kenya (Nairobi). The production CounterCircles has been assisted by the Goethe Institute of Johannesburg.

"emballe-moi" (wrap me up) choreographed by Katarzyna Gdaniec and Marco Cantalupo from Company Linga, Switzerland can be seen in the Wits Theatre on February 28 & March 1 @ 19:00

Advertising: this disproportionate social phenomenon reveals a cynical idea, which transforms the world into merchandise. The message, constantly repeated, is clear: consumption is the solution to all problems. Merchandise is the center and the meaning of life, the (super) market its temple.

With this new piece the choreographers and the five performers throw a light on the seducing techniques of this system – advertising - at the service of «the consumer society. “emballe-moi” (wrap me up) is presented with assistance from Pro-Helvetia: Swiss Arts Council

Impro-Vise_2 choreographed by Andreya Ouamba from Burkina Faso is at the UJ Arts Centre on March 3 & 4 @ 20:00 and belongs to an abstract presentation of the emotions and balance of power that street kids maintain in the streets (called ‘talibé’ in Dakar) with ‘the rest of the world’; there’s the passage of the always sad character who begs and that of the character who justifies the sad one’s existence. This work has been supported by the French Institute of South Africa and the French Embassy in South Africa.

Os is a new work by French Choreographer Pascal Montrouge, which recently premiered in France (Perpignan and Festival International de Monaco). It will be presented at the Wits Theatre on March 5 & 6 @ 19:00.

Montrouge is an artist who works in both France and Reunion Island. Os describes a journey, a path to be looked at from different viewpoints. The dancers move forward in skewed parallel, they do not engage in dialogue but constantly measure each other's presence. A woman lies on the ground with her eyes open. A dance, all twisting and balance, constantly defines the relationship between bones and the earth.

Os is presented with the support of CulturesFrance, the French Institute of South Africa and the French Embassy in South Africa.

Wola-Baba is a collaborative work created by Via Katlehong (South Africa) and Back to Hip Hop (France) that will be showcased by Via Katlehong at the UJ Theatre, March 9 & 10 @ 19:00.

Wola-Baba is the meeting of two different cultures with backgrounds in Africa verses Europe but which find similarities. A strong influence of the South African KOFIFI lifestyle which combines the mine scenes and gumboot dance meeting with European street life within their GHETTOS. Hip-hop articulates this fusion of a universal lingua. The production has received the support of the French Institute of South Africa and the French Embassy in South Africa.

Inside of Me Another Island “Dentro de mim outra ilha” choreographed by Panaibra Gabriel from Company CulturArte - Maputo – Mozambique can be seen at the U J Arts Centre on March 12 & 13 @ 20:00

This creation is a mutual challenge between the “I” and the other, between man and the actual being, between being an individual and being part of a whole. Within this lies a paradox, particularly at a time when the world walks towards a social globalization, where there is a lack and abundance, drought and rainfalls, poor and rich, under-developed and developed. It has been assisted by the Centre Culturel Franco-Mozambicain.

Muramba, a collaboration between South African artist Sifiso E. Kweyama and Gilbert Douglas from Zimbabwe, will be presented at the UJ Arts Centre on March 9 & 10 @ 20:30

It has been one year since the government of Zimbabwe embarked on the Murambatsvina (clean-up) campaign that left more than a million people homeless and/ or unemployed. The implications of the exercise were such that till this present day people have become vagrants in their own homes. Accommodation is a crucial part of human existence, it is in fact a basic human right. I believe that in all countries people do what they can to make sure they have a roof over their heads and more so in third world countries.

Other highlights for FNB Dance Umbrella 2007 are The Gauteng MEC Awards for Contemporary Choreography and Dance 2006, which will be presented on Saturday, March 17, at the Wits Amphitheatre before the final performances.

The FNB Dance Umbrella 2007 will also include a Young Choreographers Residency Programme which has been funded by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund and the National Arts Council. This will take place from February 27 to March 11, 2007.

The FNB Dance Umbrella 2007 has been made possible with assistance from First National Bank; National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund; The French Institute of South Africa; The French Embassy in South Africa; Centre Culturel Franco-Mozambicain; CulturesFrance; Business and Arts South Africa; the National Arts Council; Pro-Helvetia: Swiss Arts Council; The Goethe Institute of Johannesburg and the Gauteng Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts & Culture.

Tickets for the FNB Dance Umbrella are available at the door or can be booked at Computicket and prices range from R20.00 to R80.00. Concessions/block bookings and subscription tickets are available.

For further information contact 011 482 4140 / 011 482 5615 or e-mail
danceumbrella@artslink.co.za

The Dance Umbrella hot-line for up-dates and programmes is 072 703 9332 or visit
www.artslink.co.za/arts

ENDS

Photos available
Issued by FNB Dance Umbrella
Tel: 011 482 4140
Fax: 011 482 6212
Cell: 082 570 3083 (Georgina)/ 083 263 6991 (Bridget)
E-mail:
danceumbrella@artslink.co.za
Buz Publicity: 011 673 4995/ 673 9272

Biography: Timothy Le Roux

Timothy Le Roux

Timothy matriculated from the National School of the Arts where he initially studied drama. He then went on to Pretoria Technikon now Tswane University of Technology to train in dance. He worked in a professional capacity with companies such as Pact Contemporary, Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative, Free Flight Dance Co, Vusa Dance Co, Wilda Dance in Copenhagen, Bat Dor Dance in Tel Aviv and BCY . He has choreographed for various companies in South Africa such as State Theatre Ballet, Pact Contemporary and BCY.

Theatre credits include Fame the musical, Chicago the musical, Little Shop of Horrors and Grease the Stadium spectacular to name a few. He was nominated for a Naledi Award for both Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dream coat and for Jesus Christ Super Star both for Pieter Toerien Productions. This year he will be choreographing Hair the musical also for PTP and Peter Pan for the Civic Theatre Pantomime Production directed by Janice Honeyman.

Timothy has also been the recipient of the FNB Young Choreographers Grant as well as the FNB Vita Award for Best Male Dancer.

Biography: Tossie Van Tonder

Tossie van Tonder

alfabet is the latest of numerous works to define theatre as an arena for cultural production in South Africa. Tossie van Tonder has been a creative movement director and mostly solo performer since 1980, exploring rites of passage and autobiographical exposés through the larger medium of theatre. Her work addresses the creative embodiment of life experiences. Dialogues through movement, voice, engagement with objects and group work, facilitated to enhance and give form (‘per form’) to the individual’s position in the world today---theatre as survival. She also conducts work and artistic processes for theatre companies as well as non-artistic groups.

In November 2006 she directed and performed with Remix Dance Project on the production of bluebeard. This is a work of startling and stark beauty, retelling the cruel legend of Bluebeard. Unfolding in the world of metaphor and symbol, bluebeard is about HIV/Aids and other naïve contracts with a dangerous partner. Able and disabled dancers embodied today’s unthinkable yet liveable reality with the immediacy of struggle, innocence, illusion, emotion’s ambiguity and baleful pronouncements of intimate violence----trans-gendered as much as trans-generational : A story for Europe, Africa, the Lion’s Den on the slopes of Devil’s Peak where the site specific performance took place.

In September 2006 she participated in Out The Box Festival of Puppets, Masks and Visual Performance Africa Focus with POPPE, a solo performance, albeit with 20 participants in an expanded experiment with “a puppet loosing her selves (of strings) and relying upon sentient breaths of witnesses to bring about the most exaggerated expression in a state of emergency”. POPPE allowed for the moving body (the ultimate essence of a border) to bracket the beginnings of one’s self up till the chaos of one’s strongest feelings.

Earlier in 2006 she co-directed Orfeus with theatre director Brett Bailey.

In 2005 she performed the intricacies of the mother-child relationship with her son, as a celebration.

Tossie van Tonder is currently exploring the philosophy of the female body as theatre for the production of alfabet commissioned by FNB Dance Umbrella Festival 2007.
alfabet is an autobiographical portrayal of a life lived in and through the female body in ceremony. It attempts to express nature in the dead crone, the woman, the maternal body and a girl-child, as memory and as image. The progress from death and her (r)evolution beyond birth shows how the things that one loves, lives, and dies cannot frequently be expressed in words, but can be enlivened by refusing words, inviting the body to act as sovereign agent of knowledge and being, through movement and voice.


alfabet bears across that which we know instinctively but have forgotten, not because of its diminished presence, but because of its power and threat should it be, or not be accessed. This multi-genred work hopes to bring an uncompromising strategy that invites the audience to read the female body as an alfabet in her own right. It hopes to expose the aesthetic mystery of the unrest of a woman under the patriarchate.

Biography: Vusi Mdoyi

Vusi Mdoyi

Vusi Mdoyi a former street dancer grew up in Katlehong Township. He started his dance career in 1990 at the age of 10, being taught by a street dancer from Katlehong who was his expiration. After six years of street performances he attended Via Katlehong Community Youth Club/School of Dance where he learned art discipline, becoming a brilliant and creative student.

Vusi specialises in teaching township street dance “Pantsula”,”Gumboots” and» tap dance via spantsula dance”, and is a dancer/choreographer/director of Via Katlehong Dance Company and School of Dance. For the past six years up to date Vusi has been involved in the overseas extremely successful projects as a dancer and choreographer. He performed in England, France, Luxemburg, Belgium, Re-union, Seychelles Ireland, Germany, Italy, Greece, Spain etc with different projects and festivals with different artists all over the world.


Recently he has done two projects with Via Katlehong Dance Company with a show Nkululeko that is recently touring Europe and Wola Baba creation in collaboration with French Back to Hip-hop Dance Company.

Some of his highlights locally includes: FNB Dance Umbrella Awards, MEC Development Award. 2006 World cup bid promotion, All Africa Games etc. Vusi Mdoyi has also done some outstanding performances for the co-operation functions with Via – Katlehong Dance Company. Working with the youth has always been his passion within the field of Art as his contribution to the society.

Tuesday, February 6

Programme

FNB DANCE UMBRELLA
FEBRUARY 17 – MARCH 17, 2007

(Please note this programme is subject to change)


OPENING NIGHT MAIN: PROGRAMME 3
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23 & 24 @ 19:00
WITS THEATRE

DURATION: 1HR
Acty Tang 'One'
Thabo Rapoo 'xiif-hunger'
Daniel Mashita '2 Soul’z'

PROGRAMME 4
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23 & 24 @ 20:30
WITS DOWNSTAIRS THEATRE
DURATION: 1HR
Tossie van Tonder 'alfabet'

PROGRAMME 6
MONDAY & TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 & 27 @ 19:00
WITS THEATRE

DURATION: 40MINS
Gary Gordon 'Go'


PROGRAMME 7
MONDAY & TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 & 27 @ 20:15
WITS DOWNSTAIRS THEATRE

DURATION: 1HR
Gerda Konig (Germany) & Ondiege Matthew (Kenya) 'CounterCircles'


PROGRAMME 8
Wednesday & Thursday Feb 28 & March 1 @ 19:00
WITS THEATRE
DURATION: 1HR10MINS

Katarzyna Gdaniec & Marco Cantalupo 'Wrap me Up'


PROGRAMME 9
Wednesday & Thursday, Feb 28 & March 1 @ 20:30
THE WITS AMPHITHEATRE THEATRE
DURATION: 1HR
Peter van Heerden '6 minutes'

PROGRAMME 10
Friday March 2 @ 19:00 GALA EVENING
UJ Centre
Sifiso E. Kweyama 'The Language'
Gerard Bester 'Attachments'
Gregory Maqoma 'Flesh'
Musa Hlatshwayo 'Umthombi'
David April 'Mummy, Mummy'
PROGRAMME 11
Saturday & Sunday March 3 & 4 @ 18:00
UJ CENTRE
DURATION: 50MINS
Gladys Agulhas 'Encounters'

PROGRAMME 12
Saturday & Sunday March 3 & 4 @ 20:00
UJ Centre
DURATION: 1HR (1 interval)
Musa Hlatshwayo 'Umthombi'
Andreya Ouamba 'Improvise_2'

PROGRAMME 13
Sunday, March 4 @ 14:00 NEW MOVES 1
THE WITS THEATRE
DURATION: 2HR20MINS (1 Interval)
Lucinda Lee 'You’ll never Walk Alone'
Israel Bereta 'Something Bit Me'
Elzanne Krause 'Captivated'
Sidney Agnew 'Wavering Thoughts'
Jimmy Notuku 'The Son of the Soil'
INTERVAL
Irven Teme 'Who is in my space and Why?'
Funeka Ramorula 'Tshenolo'
Zoey Lapinsky 'Anatomy of Loss'
Mari-Louise Basson 'A Grey Area'
Songezo Mchilizeli 'Ndawo Wami'
Jeannette Ziady 'Roots to Leaves'

PROGRAMME 14
Monday and Tuesday, March 5 & 6 @ 19:00
THE WITS THEATRE
DURATION: 50MINS
Pascal Montrouge 'Os'

PROGRAMME 15
Monday & Tuesday, March 5 & 6 @ 20:00
UJ THEATRE
DURATION: 2HR5MINS (1 Interval)
Kelsey Middleton 'Love a Story'
David Matamela 'Pantsula Tango'
Craig Morris/Roslyn Wood Morris 'Untitled'
Belinda Nusser 'Untitled'
INTERVAL
Jayesperi Moopen 'Untitled'
Bailey Snyman & Nicola Haskins ‘heading out to see’
Reginald Danster 'Untitled'
Mandla Bebeza 'Untitled'

PROGRAMME 16
Wednesday & Thursday, March 7 & 8 @ 19:00
The WITS AMPHITHEATRE
DURATION: 40MINS
Deborah Hay 'Room'
Deidre Wood 'Untitled'

PROGRAMME 17
Wednesday & Thursday, March 7 & 8 @ 20:15
Wits Downstairs/The WITS THEATRE
DURATION: 1HR10MINS
Hlengiwe Lushaba 'Lest we (I) Forget' (Downstairs)
Moekesti Koena 'Bodyscape'
Sello Pesa 'Extract of x’s 2'
PROGRAMME 18
Friday and Saturday, March 9 & 10 @ 19:00
UJ THEATRE
DURATIONS: 1HR
Via Katlehong/Back to Hip Hop 'Wola-Baba'

PROGRAMME 19
Friday & Saturday, March 9 & 10: 20:30
THE JOHANNESBURG UNIVERSITY ARTS CENTRE
DURATION: 1HR20MINS
Sylvia Glasser 'Blankets of Shame'
Sifiso E. Kweyama & Gilbert Douglas 'Muramba'

PROGRAMME 20
Sunday March 11 @ 14:30: NEW MOVES 2
THE WITS THEATRE
DURATION: 2HRS56MINS (1 Interval)
Ellington Mazibuko 'Marang'
Nhlanhla Zwane 'Ancestral Power'
Obed Setshabi 'Connection'
Sibusiso Kubeka/Mxolisi Ngwenya 'Moving Souls'
Dr Ranjit Lalloo 'Dawn of Creation'
INTERVAL
Lucky Kele 'So Dance my Dance'
Mcebisi Bhayi 'Free us Now'
Linda-lee and Mapule 'What Happened'
Luyanda Sidiya 'Sacred Space'
Penelope Thloloe 'Sights and Scenes'
PROGRAMME 21
Monday & Tuesday, March 12 & 13 @ 20:00
THE UJ THEATRE
DURATION: 40MINS
Panaibra Gabriel 'Inside of me another Island'
MONTAGE: VIDEO DANCE FESTIVAL
CITY VARSITY CAMPUS, 39 GWI MNWEBI STREET, NEWTOWN.
@18:00- 19:00

PROGRAMME 22
Wednesday & Thursday, March 14 & 15 @ 20:00
UJ THEATRE
DURATION: 1HR
Gregory Maqoma 'Beautiful Me'

PROGRAMME 23
Friday & Saturday, March 16 & 17 @ 18:30 & 20:00
CONSTITUTION HILL
Ina Wiechterich 'Jampass'
PROGRAMME 24
Friday & Saturday, March 16 & 17 @ 19:15
WITS DOWNSTAIRS THEATRE
DURATION: 56MINS
Timothy Le Roux 'Open white, fade to black'
Sifiso Majola 'Wanting'
Aja Marneweck 'Abajo (I am under.)'

PROGRAMME 25
Friday & Saturday. March 16 & 17 @ 20:30
THE WITS THEATRE
DURATION: 1HR
Constance Kau 'Spirit'
Mdu Mtshali 'Conflicted Soul'
Mlu Zondi 'Incognito'

SATURDAY, MARCH 17
THE GAUTENG MEC AWARDS FOR CONTEMPORARY CHOREOGRAPHY AND DANCE WILL BE PRESENTED BEFORE THE LAST PERFORMANCE

FNB DANCE UMBRELLA 2007
STEPPING STONES FRINGE PROGRAMMES


PROGRAMME 1: STEPPING STONES 1
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17 @ 10:00
THE WITS THEATRE
DURATION: 6HRS8MINS
Gladys Agulhas 'Unknown'
Alison Green 'Untitled'
Sikhumbuzo Buka 'Ingxubevange'
Mduduzi Dlamini 'Untitled'
Bafana Dlamini 'Safa Saphela'
BREAK
Mdu Mtshali 'Echoes Of Africa'
Leholohonolo Dube 'Thorns of my Land'
Zandisile Dyantyi 'Being an Artist'
Bheki Kubeka 'I Mix Dance'
Tebogo Tlale 'Untitled'
Lucky Rathlagane 'Fade Inn'
Frank Lwandle Khoza 'Squad Peace On'
Andries Kgobetsi 'Solo'
BREAK
Meshack Letlhake 'The beauty of the dance'
Ntombizizile Sikhakhane 'Untitled 7 mins
Dumisane Mhlangu 'Chance 111 10 mins
Daniel Mosia 'Unity is Power 10 mins
Petrus Moatshe 'Con Dance 7 mins
LUNCH
Innocent Mohlakane 'Gumboots 10 mins
Ntsane Mopeli 'Its Hectic but not Pointless 10 mins
Aubrey Mabogoane 'Roots 10 mins
Machona Mahlake 'Rezzerection 10 mins
Sibusiso Methula 'Pantsula 10 mins
BREAK
Lucky Modiselle 'Harsh Realities of Life 10 mins
Lungile Lebogang Maboe 'Listen to my Silence 10 mins
Gilbert Mashite 'Badiri 10 mins
Mduduzi Wilson Mkethi 'Trapped 10 mins
Mokhela Ben Makatu 'Tshepo 10 mins
Klass Kompi 'Adade Punsanse 8 mins
BREAK
Mandla Mngomezulu 'San 5 mins
Mphamut Moepe 'Women Infected 10 mins
Vanessa Morris 'The Error of Parallax 5 mins
Matshepiso Phaladi 'Ekasi Production 10 mins
Tladi Moletsane 'Wind Of Change 10 mins

PROGRAMME 2: STEPPING STONES 2
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 18 @ 10:00
THE WITS THEATRE
DURATION: 7HRS
Palesa Nait The Undying Spirit
Bonginkosi Nkosi On our Own
Maniki Moshane Fulfillment
Simphiwe Mba Strugling For Africa
Alan Parker The Brightness in Beige
BREAK
Okaile Lekarapa Maitsibolo
Mandla Sibeko End Of The Road
Benjamin Peea Ward 11
Bertus Barkhuizen Then You Die
Siphiwe Mbatha Who Shall It Be
Neela Bamberger Just Coz I Can
BREAK
Helen Ntshabele Untitled
Corlia Swanepoel Dead Guys with Bombs
Angela Thomas Not Yet Known
Pascal Mangenengene Untitled
Peter Tshabalala Managing Director
LUNCH
Genesis Maduna Way Back
Annalie De Wet Black Wnged Bird
Jerry Zwane Untitled
Bongani Nkosi The Only One
Nzimeni Herembi Birth and Death
Tiro Motlhathledi Cinapana???
BREAK
Puleng Selematse Street Jam
Gift Dlamini Untitled
Zinhle Zondo Free Time
Fana Tshabalala As it is Two in One
Annelize Tiger Shout
Zunaid E Mossey Contemporary Dance
BREAK
Potlaki Mokheti So What?
Versa Magan Surya
Tanya Futter Untitled
Lynch Rantsie Sotho Traditional
Moloto Mahlatse Dancing for Entertainment
Oupa China Malatjie The Movement
Abubakar Usman Behind The Mask

PROGRAMME 5: STEPPING STONES 3
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25 @ 10:00
UNCLE TOMS: SOWETO
DURATION: 4HRS
Elvina Diale We can also dance Pantsula
Given Lesotho/Zandile Thezi The Chair
William Mbambo Mountain on Fire
Thabang Mpooa Untitled
Neo Makebe Ekasi Siya Jika
Relebogile Mokhe-Jane Pantsula
BREAK
Landisile Nomngqukwana The Gathering
Clement Seabi Virgins Connecting with Spring
Melusi Mkhanjane Imvelo
Njabulo Sibanba Boorap
Joseph Rapula Kikka
Lebogang Setuke What I went through life
Emmanuel Seage Dance
Yuhl Headman Rhythm In Ocean
BREAK
Paul V Giba We Can Survive Without Them
Magaret Makoka A Piece Of Earth
Thabo Kunene Jive Soweto
Pheello Kotelo El Musica
Tshiwua Nngapane Africa-Indaba
Tebogo Matlaila Mother To Child
Thabang Ramaila Cornerstone
Elijah Mofokeng Masibonisane
Bongani Zwane Pantsula