23 August – 3 September 2017
JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience will host four open workshops at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Dance Studio (Howard College Campus) between 23 August and 3 September, as part of the festival’s efforts to share knowledge and skills to local dancers, choreographers and dance teachers.
The 19th annual JOMBA! festival, which is hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts (within the College of Humanities), includes a packed line up of local and international guests, who will in assist in facilitating workshops, that are open to the public.
The first workshop is facilitated by Kossi Sebastien Aholou-Wokawui from steptext dance project in Germany. Kossi is a dancer and dance teacher from Togo and he will take dancers into the world of ‘AFRO-AFRICAN’ technique. He defines ‘AFRO-AFRICAN’ technique as an African dance of modern expression, it is a synthesis of traditional dances of West Africa, Western contemporary dance and Caribbean dance (Haiti/Cuba). He says that this technique is an ongoing dialogue with the cosmos and nature and works mainly on rooting, breathing and the mobility of the spine, giving special importance to improvisation and musical accompaniment, all styles/techniques and abilities are welcome. This workshop takes place on Thursday 24 August, from 4 to 6pm.
Memela Nyamze from Cape Town will facilitate a workshop drawing on the politics of the “BODY” on Saturday 26 August from 10am to 12 noon. Nyamza radically deconstructs the normative expectations of who qualifies to be a dancer. In this workshop dancers will explore dynamic ways of communicating with your bodies by simply using physical techniques, the mind, the soul, and the past and the presence in the most symbolic way. Dancers of all abilities and levels, and who are 18 years and older may attend this.
On Tuesday 29 August from 5 to 7pm, Standard Bank Young Artist for Dance 2017, Thandazile “Sonia” Radebe from Johannesburg, will facilitate an open level workshop combined technique class that will explore some of Radebe’s working methods in her creation of SABELA, all abilities and levels welcome.
Finally on Saturday 2 September from 10am-12noon, Adriaan Lutijn teacher/ artistic manager of INTRODANS – from Arnhem in Holland will take participants through the daily routine of this modern ballet company, in a practical way. He will use the repertoire of the performance of INTRODANS on the festival as an inspiration. Dancers of all backgrounds in dance are welcome at this workshop.
These workshops are offered free of charge to participants but booking is essential as places are limited. The workshops are open to dancers 16 years and older (unless otherwise specified) .
Bookings can be done on 082 875 6065 (during office hours only) or e-mailjombafestival@gmail.com at least 2 days in advance of the workshop
For more information contact Lliane Loots on lootsl@ukzn.ac.za