It’s a piece of cake for dancing duo
BAKING until the early hours of the morning and walking up 10 floors to sell home-made cupcakes may not be the type of work associated with dancers.
But for Durban dancers Nosipho Mkhize and Cue Ngema, they are the right ingredients to make their dreams come true.
Mkhize and Ngema will present Salute: African Goddess, a showcase of all things creative, at Alliance Francaise de Durban this afternoon.
The showcase brings together poetry, music, dance, drama, visual art, painting and design, in celebration of Women’s Month.
“We decided to put this event together to celebrate everything we love about art and to celebrate women. But this event also showcases us and develops us as artists. We have dreams and this is a way to build them,” said Mkhize.
The two became friends while working for the Phakama Dance Theatre, where part of their work was to teach school pupils about dance.
Mkhize has a degree in drama, performance studies and music from UKZN and Ngema studied drama and dance at the Durban University of Technology.
“We didn’t want to sit back and wait for opportunities to come our way. We said we’d create the opportunities and do it ourselves,” said Ngema.
Mkhize’s creativity extends from the stage to the kitchen, where she whips up delicious baked goods to sell.
“I started Gloryart Café some time ago as I love baking, and one day I want to own a bakery that has an attached recording studio, an exhibition area, and everything I love and am passionate about. It’s still early days though but one day I’ll get there,” she said.
On alternate days Mkhize bakes from 9pm until the early hours of the next day and Ngema is then tasked with selling the baked goods. He walks up to the 13th floor of the building he lives in, going to each door to make a sale.
“The money we get from the sale of the cupcakes is used for printing posters for the event, for airtime to make calls and paying for transport for some of the artists,” said Mkhize.
Salute: African Goddess, Alliance Francaise de Durban, between 3pm and 6pm today. Entry fee: R50 includes a free drink, students with ID: R25. For more information, call 062 361 8950.