Theatre News South Africa

Numerous shows at Dance for All's annual performance

Dance for All (DFA) will present their annual performance this year at the Joseph Stone Theatre on 19 November 2011. The once-off performance will showcase students from DFA's various specialised dance programmes, in a selection of new works by a number of choreographers using diverse styles.

Well-known ballet teacher Ingrid Carlson will present her new work Rococo Moves, set to a wonderful Tchaikovsky score. She initially choreographed the piece as a solo for a female dancer and has now expanded it into a full work involving more dancers. Former CAPAB ballet dancer, Nigel Lucas will be presenting a new item called "Movin'," with music by Rusted Root. Renowned choreographer Christopher Kindo's "Imvula", recently seen at the Baxter Dance Festival, will be presented by the talented Young InSPIRAtions, DFA's performing group. Kindo will also present a new work, "Four Part Fusion Plus One". This new light-hearted piece has a vibrant jazzy score that includes ensemble work, pas de deux and solos.

Bruno Wani, a former dancer with Jazzart Dance Theatre and now a teacher at DFA, has choreographed a new piece called "Forest of Hope". This contemporary work depicts Amazon life and the people who live in this beautiful forest. It is aimed at expanding awareness of this invaluable portion of earth and its rich contribution to our planet's health. The other work he will be presenting this year is titled "I Love You". Well known ballet teacher Margie Sim, who was a soloist with PACT Ballet, has choreographed a new work titled "To a Lavender Lady", which is dedicated to the late Professor Heather Boyd, mother of DFA's CEO Philip Boyd. The beautiful and very touching music score, from the film "Ladies in Lavender", describes her beauty and dignity perfectly.

Respectful behaviour by teens

Margie Sim's second piece is titled "How to be a Gentleman". Her students are now entering their teenage years and, with abuse of girls and women being rife in our society today, Margie has tried to address this through a choreographed show of respectful behaviour. The third piece that she will be presenting is an excerpt from the "Peasant pas de deux", as an exercise in repertoire from the lovely romantic classical ballet "Giselle".

Allison Hendricks, former contemporary dancer and teacher who has just returned from choreographing in Spain, will be presenting a fun fusion hip hop piece that she has choreographed for the students who attend the public hip hop classes at Studios@Aden. One of DFA's talented senior bridging programme students, Byron Klassen, has choreographed his first piece for DFA called My Instrument. Byron's inspiration for choreographing this work comes from the synergistic use - as an instrument - of the mind, body, soul and human spirit with the piano and voice. The office administrator, Naomi van Rooyen, also inspired Byron with her powerful singing. What he wants to communicate is that one does not have to understand the actual words, but the beauty of a voice - an instrument that has a common language for us all. Similarly, the body is our universal instrument of dance and of life.

Let's do Biz