MY COUNTRY- SOUTH AFRICA-2010 PERFORMANCE PROJECT

In celebration of the 2010 Soccer World Cup and acknowledging the great strides made in the Arts Focus Schools, Artscape and the Western Cape Education Department are partnering in an innovative new project that will showcase the exceptional dance talent emerging from these schools.

Professional choreographers have been assigned to each school to produce a performance for the production of My Country - South Africa, which will be presented in the Artscape Theatre on 15 June at 19:30 and 16 June 2010 (Youth Day) at 15:00 and 19:30. It is directed by Alfred Hinkel.

Some of the choreographers are graduates from Jazzart’s Young Adult Training and Job Creation Programme as well as from Jazzart Dance Theatre, Ikapa Dance Theatre and Remix Dance Company. They include Ina Wichterich-Mogane, Ananda Fuchs, Gordon Andries, Sbo Ndaba, Abeedah Medell, Marlin Zoutman, Theo Ndindwe, Grant van Ster, Mziyanda Mancam and Douglas Griffiths.

A number of works from the Visual Art and Design learners will be on display as a preview to their Matric exhibition scheduled for later in the year at the Iziko South African National Gallery. Graduates from the Arts Focus Schools currently involved in their internship at Jazzart Dance Theatre, La Rosa Spanish Dance Theatre and the UCT School of Dance will also be performing.

The focus school project began in 2006 as one of the targeted interventions to establish selected schools in each district as pathfinders and lead institutions in their fields. Driven by the purpose of ensuring access to quality education in the full range of arts subjects, especially in disadvantaged areas, these schools have been promoted to ensure excellence in the nurturing and comprehensive training of learners with exceptional talent, interest or aptitude and to improve the supply of high quality skills, particularly scarce skills, which are responsive to societal and economic needs.

This project forms part of Artscape’s month of celebrating the achievement of youth in the Western Cape where a platform for young artists is provided to demonstrate their skills in a professional environment. They are also introduced to the high standard of theatre practice and ‘behind the scene’ teams that help create that perfect memorable performance - an occasion where parents, friends and teachers can proudly indulge in their success.

Participating schools include: Alexander Sinton High (Athlone), Belhar High (Belhar), Cedar Secondary (Mitchell’s Plain), Chris Hani Secondary (Khayelitsha), Eerste Rivier Secondary (Eerste Rivier), Schoonspruit Secondary (Malmesbury), South Peninsula High (Diep River), Worcester Secondary (Worcester) and Wynberg High, (Wynberg).

Ticket prices are R50, Students and pensioners R30, schools R20 per learner. There is a discount for block bookings of ten or more. Book through Artscape Dial-a-Seat 021 421-7695, Computicket, Shoprite and Checkers outlets or on line www.computicket.com.

Posted in: 2010 Soccer World Cup, arts, Artscape, dance