JOMBA! will open doors for aspiring fresh talent

THE annual JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, which will take place at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from August 29 to September 9, invites dancers, dance makers and theatre lighting practitioners to apply to participate in selected programmes of its 20th edition.

Presented by UKZN’s Centre for Creative Arts, JOMBA! provides a platform for professional, experimental and up-coming choreographers and dance companies within its Main, Fringe and Youth Fringe programmes. The JOMBA! Fringe is an adult contemporary dance platform where eight short works are selected and technically supported. This Fringe event takes place at UKZN’s Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, on September 1.

The JOMBA! Youth Fringe is open to dancers under the age of 16 years. It is a supportive initiative for various “Dance Development” projects operating in the province of KZN and provides a space to celebrate the up-and-coming generation of young contemporary dancers and dance practitioners. This event will take place at UKZN’s Open Air Theatre, on September 2.

Both platforms do not come with financial support but those selected are given professional technical support via the lighting designers, sound technicians and stage managers, as well as the JOMBA! team. This year JOMBA! will join forces with the Durban Arts Gallery (DAG) to present a special site responsive dance event at the festival, on September 7.

JOMBA! and DAG are looking to award two Durbanbased choreographers with a small grant to create a dance/ physical theatre work that will premiere at this event. The work has to be new and selected choreographers will be mentored and given full technical support. The grant is for a vision of work that engages “in situ” spaces both inside and outside the gallery.

This year, there is a welcome addition of an open lighting for dance workshop on September 3 at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre.

Julie Ballard, a Chicago-based professional theatrical technician, affiliated with IATSE Local 2 and Actors’ Equity Association, and the Stage Manager and Properties Master for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, will present this workshop for dance-makers, dancers and technicians. This workshop is free for 20 participants – but prior applications must be made.

Applications for the JOMBA! @DAG closes on June 1, and the Fringe, Youth Fringe and the Lighting Workshop must be in by June 4, by 4pm, and should to be sent to jombafestival@gmail.com

For enquiries, e-mail Lliane Loots on lootsl@ukzn.ac.za using the name of the programme/ workshop you are applying for in the subject line.