‘Joseph’ star ready to share his skills in EL

FORMER Selbornian Sonwa Sakuba has sung and danced his way through 302 shows of Pieter Toerien’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with dozens more to go, but next week he is carving time out of his busy schedule to share his expertise with dancers in his hometown.

Sakuba, 25, is cast as youngest brother Benjamin in the musical. He started the run in Johannesburg’s Pieter Toerien Theatre last April, moved with the production to Cape Town’s Theatre on the Bay and is Eastern Cape-bound to perform at Port Elizabeth’s Opera House from Thursday until February 12.

“It’s been quite a hectic ride doing such a long run,” said Sakuba, who first appeared in Joseph in a Dramsoc production when he was 15.

“Sometimes we do three shows a day so at times I have experienced vocal fatigue, but having a cup of green or ginger tea before each performance helps. It’s my ritual.”

He may be young, but Sakuba’s CV already reads like that of a seasoned professional. After cutting his teeth in several shows at the Guild Theatre, he trained at Cape Town’s Waterfront Theatre School, then at New York’s Broadway Dance Centre before hitting the musical circuit in West Side Story at the Artscape and African Footprint in Sandton. After that Joseph swept into his life.

In between his busy performance schedule, Sakuba teaches dance and will be sharing these skills at two master classes in Cambridge and Mdantsane on Monday.

Modern and jazz dancers from the city’s dance studios have two classes, junior and senior, to choose from, while about 100 children from six Mdantsane schools will also benefit from his expertise at no cost.

“There is a lot of talent in East London. The biggest thing I tell them is that there is no shortcut to anything,” said Sakuba, who often works 11-hour days and plans to do a master’s degree in professional practice in dance technique through London’s Middlesex University.

Once the PE run is done, it’s back to Cape Town for another 80 shows before the Joseph cast – Sakuba included – tour New Zealand.

● To book a spot at Sakuba’s workshops at St Mark’s Anglican church hall in Cambridge on Monday at 3.30pm to 5pm (juniors) or 6pm to 7.30pm (seniors) at R180 per person, e-mail him on com —