Youngsters told to dream big and keep practising
A lifeguard and a sound engineer give up their time to teach aspiring performers in a park
WHEN Thabo Mahomane blows his whistle, all the children attending the Midvaal Arts Institution drop what they’re doing and come closer to hear what their teacher’s instructions are for the day.
Unlike most classes or dance rehearsals, the ones at Midvaal — where Mahomane, 33, is the creative brains behind the project — take place outdoors, in a park in Sicelo, just outside Meyerton, south of Johannesburg.
Mahomane joined the arts group two years ago.
It was started in 2012 by his business partner, Ishmael Molelekoa, 33, who takes care of the administrative side of the project.
At least 30 children and adults between the ages of six and 22 turn up every day for classes and rehearsals after school, ranging from dancing, singing, acting and visual arts, to school holiday programmes and skills development programmes. A feeding scheme was recently introduced.
The duo’s goal is to see their work in the community nurture artists of international calibre.
Mahomane said they were thinking beyond just creating the next local star. “We really want to infiltrate the international market . . . and create artists that can play a vital role in the economy.”
Mahomane, who is employed as a lifeguard by the City of Johannesburg, said that during winter, when there was no work in that field, he focused all his efforts on the institution.
He said that in the past two years of teaching children he had not only learnt more about himself, but also about his art.
“It give us more experience as well. We learn from them as they learn from us. That makes me very happy.”
Molelekoa agreed: “It’s very difficult doing this. I sometimes feel like I could’ve done more, but then you realise this is all a spiritual journey and we’re all part of a family.
“It’s tough, but not tough to the point where we want to give up. We just continue pushing through and making do with what we have,” said Molelekoa, who is a sound engineer.
He said the institution got help when organising events such as its annual Pantsula Arts Festival and the Gauteng Carnival, but otherwise had to rely on the goodwill of various people and how far it could stretch LIFE-SAVER: Thabo Mahomane is the creative energy behind the Midvaal Arts Institution the little money it had.
Mahomane said he got involved with Midvaal to help the children they teach realise that they should dream big.
“We discovered that they have got small dreams. These kids need somebody to guide them and make them realise they are talented and can achieve anything they want.”
He said he was inspired by the arts, especially dancing, as a youth, but lacked guidance.
Mahomane said whenever they ran into difficulty in securing a venue or funding they always managed to make a plan. “We just find alternatives. We don’t complain. All we want to do is perform,” he said.
“Give us the space, give us the time, and we’ll make it happen.”
Tebello Makgotla, who helps out with marketing for the institution part-time, said: “We are based in an area where there is a very high lack of motivation within the youth. Like any other community, our young boys and girls tend to fall into alcohol and drugs.
“The Midvaal Arts Institution has adopted a few schools and community youth clubs and with them we have started outreach programmes where we bring some of our talented friends in the neighbourhood and teach these kids and have fun with them,” he said.
Lucky Molato, a ward committee member in Sicelo who focuses on the youth, said the work Mahomane and Molelekoa were doing was helping to improve the community.
“What kids are doing here is very important for them. Obviously it keeps them off the streets and away from drugs. It keeps them disciplined,” he said.
“Some of them show leadership skills and this is an opportunity for them to continue developing their leadership skills.”
Although the institution allowed for the children attending to get recognition, support and encouragement in the arts, the fact that it didn’t have proper facilities sometimes let the project down.
“When the weather conditions get bad, they get discouraged to come and practise,” Molato said, commenting after one of the young girls practising a dance routine had stepped on a piece of broken glass.
Mahomane immediately dropped what he was doing, knelt down and assisted with removing the shard of glass.
These kids need somebody to guide them and make them realise they are talented and can achieve anything they want
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