KZN DanceLink hosted a fortnight of choreographic teaching and exploration from the 28th of May to the 8th of June this year (2007)

Gary Gordon, Professor of Drama and Dance at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, was employed to lead and facilitate the project, and 11 young choreographers from eThekwini were offered a paid opportunity to participate, following an application process.

This was done in collaboration with the Centre for Creative Arts, who are now working on Phase 2 with the choreographers. They have all been given a further grant to make work, and this work will be enhanced by a week’s work with a choreographer from Mozambique and a further week’s work with a lighting designer from France. Their work can be seen at JOMBA! the contemporary dance festival run by the Centre for Creative Arts, UKZN over the week 24th August to 1st September. “We gained so much working with Gary Gordon who gave us confidence, support, understanding, encouragement. And we learnt so much from each other. What a fantastic opportunity. Thank you, KZN DanceLink”

10th Jomba! Contemporary Dance Experience, between 24 August – 1 September, focuses attention on dance development programmes aimed at enriching the choreographic skills of dance makers in the region. Recognising development as a core element for the continued establishment of dance as a significant art form in South Africa, Jomba has made the Choreographers Residency Laboratory – the ChoreoLab -- its flagship project for 2007.

Mozambiquean choreographer Panaibra Gabriel and French lighting designer Eric Wurtz will mentor eleven KwaZulu-Natal choreographers through a process that culminates in presentations of their works at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre across two weekends during Jomba. This forms the 2nd Phase of the ChoreoLab Residency which began in May with choreographic workshops led by Professor Gary Gordon, and organized and funded by KZN DanceLink. ChoreoLab participants are Thulile Bengu, Sithembiso Gcabashe, Sifiso Khumalo, Mlekeleli Khuzwayo, Vusi Makanya, Sanele Mzinyane, Sifiso Ngcobo, Sibusiso Ngidi, S’phelele Nzama, Varsha Sharma, and Jabu Siphika. ChoreoLab performances take place on 24th, 25th, and 31st August, and 1st September at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre,UKZN

Developments in Choreography

A MAJOR OPPORTUNITY FOR CREATIVE EXPLORATION SUBSIDISED EXPERIMENTATION

A MAJOR OPPORTUNITY FOR CREATIVE EXPLORATION
SUBSIDISED EXPERIMENTATION