Media Release
JOMBA! Pick of the Fringe awarded at 19th JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience
Pietermaritzburg choreographer, JC Zondi received the inaugural “JOMBA! Pick of the Fringe” award last night(August 29) at this year’s Fringe of the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, after a riveting ten-performance programme of highly creative dance work by a variety of choreographers from around South Africa.
Currently reading for his Masters in Drama and Performance Studies at the University Of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg Campus), 26 year old Zondi’s piece was titled Intimate and was performed by dancers Vuyo Sabelo Ndawonde, Sanele Kenneth Mntumba, Londeka Zondi andJC Zondi and videography by Simphiwe Fiddy Ngcobo. The work, which featured videography combined with live performance, is described by Zondi as “an invitation and exploration into the deep personal space of the dancer(s) intimate bodies and how we look at each other.”
This new “JOMBA! Pick of the Fringe” is given to an innovative choreographer from the Fringe in an endeavour to further encourage choreographers to create new work.
Tuesday night’s panel consisted of Durban-based reviewer Chris Tobo, choreographers Adriaan Luteijn and Nina Funk from INTRODANS (Netherlands) and well-known SA dance critic Adrienne Sichel.
Two other works were given a special mention by the panel - i ‘Yakhal Imbokodo choreographed by Bonwa Mbontsi and Francis Menningke (Bonwa Dance Company – from Pietermaritzburg) and Aslama, choreographed by Yaseen Manuel (from Cape Town).
“For me JOMBA! Fringe has always been a platform where I could showcase the beautiful students/dancers who I work with, and relay some message to the world of art,” said a delighted Zondi. “Receiving the award yesterday was a great surprise and a reminder as to why I do what I do, and an incentive to keep creating.”
Jomba runs until September 3 at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, UKZN. For more info go to www.cca.ukzn.ac.za
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