They come to Durban to dance
DANCERS, dance companies and choreographers from across the globe are heading to Durban for 12 days of some of the world’s best dance theatre work. Such is the allure of Jomba! Contemporary Dance Experience. And it starts this week.
The festival promises to provoke, entertain, delight, challenge and, most of all, leave you breathless.
The University of KwaZuluNatal’s Centre for Creative Arts presents its 18th annual Jomba! Contemporary Dance Experience at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, Pieter Scholtz Open Air Theatre and KZNSA Gallery from August 24 to September 4.
This year’s festival hosts dancers and dance companies from Switzerland, Austria, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Reunion Island, France and South Africa.
New to JOMBA! this year is KZN On The Edge – a platform that supports fresh and innovative contemporary dance works coming out KZN.
For the inaugural KZN On The Edge, three innovative selections have been made.
The first is a collaboration between lighting designer Michael Broderick and David Gouldie called One Man, One Light, the second is by Tegan Peacok and her Pietermartizburg based ReRouted Dance Company. They will premiere Paraphernalia of Suffering.
The final performance place has been given to the “newest kids on the block”, Phakama Dance Company. Choreographer Sandile Mkhize will also premier a new work called Take Me Back Home.
“This platform ensures that Jomba! continues to mentor and support new and established KZN-based dancers and choreographers who are proving their mettle by consistently putting out works of excellence, despite funding cuts,” says Lliane Loots, artistic director.
Jomba! also has fringe and a youth fringe elements, and offers a full programme of workshops and master classes.
For a full listing go to www. cca.ukzn.ac.za and go to the Jomba! page, or Facebook/ Jomba! Contemporary Dance Experience.