Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Young talent gets a boost
YOUNG South Africans looking to get into the performing arts are often faced with various barriers to entry.
KykNet and DSTV, in partnership with local media company The Domingo Effect, and the WCED Metropole South Education District, are looking to remedy this with their Family Talent Mentorship Project.
The project brings together 150 high school pupils from all over the Southern Metropole, to discover hidden talents in the performing arts.
Learners with an interest in music, acting, dance and writing convened at Strandfontein High School over this past week, using their school holidays to test their abilities and refine their craft.
They were given a masterclass by various industry giants, such as actor Loukmaan Adams, musician Frazer Barry, dancer Lee Sophia Piedt, and writer John Fredricks.
Co-ordinator of the programme Shiehaam Domingo, from The Domingo Effect, said the mentorship programme began in April last year when KykNet hosted a talent showcase at Strandfontein High as a part of the renowned theatre festival, Suidoosterfees.
“The Department of Education South Metropole has been an amazing partner in getting the kids together in the same school,” said Domingo.
Writing mentor John Fredericks, author of
Noem , said: “I felt some My Skollie amazing talent. There’s a fountain of talent from the youth at my workshop.”
Fraser Barry, mentor of the students in the music department, said: “We encourage the kids to take ownership and let their own authentic voices be heard. We’re pushing them to tap into their own creative DNA, instead of Beyoncé’s or Drake’s. Their lives have changed and my life has changed by the fact that I can experience that our youth are taking ownership of their own stories. I’m very excited about this.”
Acclaimed musician Loukmaan Adams, who was the drama department mentor said: “I find that these kids can be given any topic and take it on them and create their own realities, which is fascinating. I’m used to working in a space where it takes maybe two or three weeks to come up with a concept of production, but here we literally have four days, and we’re working with kids who can use their imaginations, their realities, their personal issues and turn it into a scene on stage.”
This project will be also be a major launching platform for some of the students, as three of the top young actors from the programme will receive an acting screen test and appear on the popular KykNet soapie,
; while the top dance Suidooster and music acts will be given the chance to perform at the Mitchell’s Plain Festival in December.
They learners performed in a a showcase on Friday night, where the acting group performed three different plays, the music group wrote five original songs and the dance group performed five original routines which they spent the entire week developing and practising.
Chandré Linevee, a matric pupil at Steenberg High who attended the programme said: “I came here because I have a passion for music, singing, and acting. Initially I didn’t know what to expect, but when I came here I was absolutely blown away.”
Another matric pupil, Nomava Hleza from Pelican Park High said: “Speaking to Mister John (Fredericks), he opened my eyes to many opportunities out there and he made me realise that it’s not an easy world out there, but with determination, passion, and me knowing who I am and where I come from, and what I want to do, I can actually do this.”
Nomava is a drama student and hopes to become a producer one day.
There’s no doubt that this kind of mentorship from industry professionals will help these aspirant performers get one step closer to achieving their dreams of becoming performing artists.