Emerge At Artscape

Dance is a growing and important medium in South African society.  Far from being a marginalised entertainment, dance enables our youth to express their pent-up inner feelings – both good and bad – and allows them the opportunity to express themselves, free from reprisals.

Contemporary dance company, Jazzart Dance Theatre’s highly anticipated 2019 dance production entitled ‘Emerge’, speaks to the heart of the necessary evolution of our human relationships.  The season comprises works choreographed by Sifiso Kweyama, Ananda Fuchs and three company members Vuyolwethu Nompetsheni, Tanzley Jooste and Darion Adams, recent Jazzart graduates. 

‘Emerge’ – Jazzart’s Dance Season at Artscape

The 2019 season is also the first showcase for the 15 young artists who began their 3-year training programme in 2019. Looking to inspire young and old through dance as a storytelling medium, the students will be joined on stage by the 14 Jazzart-Chrysalis Leadership 1-year dance programme trainees.

This production represents South Africa’s hope for an unencumbered future, as portrayed by the students’ ‘emergence’ into adulthood, one they form for themselves, although mindful of the past and of their imprint on the future.  They are fresh thinking, not bound by the constraints of old, they have their eyes firmly focused on all the possibilities of what tomorrow can bring and which comes through loud and clear in these energetic and soulful performances.

Jazzart’s Artistic Director, Sifiso Kweyama once again demonstrates his consummate ability to bring out the best in his young dancers.  His work entitled “Solid”, skilfully and sensitively interlaces the individual stories into one fluid and cohesive dance that progresses through life’s intricate journey and materialises as a hopeful, unified human element, protective and nurturing of one another and of the environment we call home.

‘Elements of Enough’ was created by Ananda Fuchs and the trainees who embarked on a process journey of exploring how a young person feels about their own power to create positive change.  Physical, emotional and verbal boundaries were explored and the right to say ‘No’ to that which does not serve. Our thresholds were as unique as our fingerprints when we asked, “What is each of ‘our’ Enough?”.

Using the five elements: Air; Earth; Fire; Metal and Water as a creative springboard, we likened each element to the growing power of the people standing together to effect change because we have collectively decided that the threshold has been reached.

The female dancers emerge from the shadows to take a standpoint for themselves in Vuyolwethu Nomphetsheni’s piece, Nur Nuur. The piece reflects a mood and a movement which is resonating around the globe at present.   The raw vulnerability of each woman, their pain to be heard and seen, their daily struggles to be taken seriously.

Image credit: Oscar O’Ryan

Vuyolwethu believes that, albeit the fact that each generation has an inherited burden left behind and carried over from one bloodline to the next, our freedom and solace is still found at home; our refuge is with our family who provide us with comfort and light.

I Am Because You Are, speaks about our responsibility to pass on our knowledge gained through living life, falling, picking ourselves back up again, and coming back stronger than before.  To pay all these pearls forward so as to support someone else’s life voyage. Darion Adam’s cast of young men come together, to provide mutual support in growing positive masculinity that will impact our society, especially during these turbulent times.

Lastly, Tanzley Jooste, also cuts her choreographic `teeth` under the mentorship of Ananda Fuchs, presenting ‘There’, which premiered at the 2019 Baxter Dance Festival. Tanzley’s offering gives us a glimpse into the lives of 14 individuals who know nothing of one another until life and opportunity bring them together.  Sharing the deep connection of expression through the body, they journey towards the light, only to realise that they too are light carriers with a future of their making.

Event details:

Tickets are available at Computicket and cost is R 80 normal price, R 50 for students & pensioners and R 30 for block bookings to accommodate school learners and outreach groups.

Performances take place on –

18 October 2019 at 11h30  (Schools)

19 October 2019 at 15h00 (Schools)

25 October 2019 at 20h00, Opening Night (public and schools)

26 October 2019 at 15h00 and 20h00 (public and schools)

Win Tickets To ‘Emerge’ 

I’ve got 2 sets of 4 tickets to see Emerge Artscape, to give away! If you’d like to win, please leave a comment on this blog post below.

Giveaway closes Wednesday 16 October.

xxx

Hayley