SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Northern KZN Regional Pionier High School: Wrap up

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Northern KZN Regional

Pionier High School: Saturday 29 February

Northern KZN Regional has a new winner, that of host school Hoërskool Pionier which took the title in a scintillating final of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Saturday 29 February.

Hoërskool Pionier had a cracker of a day, starting their efforts off with a 5 nil victory and continued their winning streak all the way to the final where they met St Dominics Newcastle School. 

St Doms started the regional final with a spring in their step as they worked their way to the Pionier goal from the whistle. The visiting team opened their account with an absolute pearler of a goal when Vanessa Abudo entered the circle left of goal, slapped the ball in from the top of the D, passed the waiting keeper, Chrysna van Rhyn’s defence to a cleverly placed Andiswa Mhlongo camping out on the right post. Mhlongo calmly popped the ball across the line, netting the first goal. 

After 8 minutes, the home team started chipping away at St Dominics Newcastle’s dominance when they broke into the opposition’s circle and earned a short corner after 8 minutes and 21 seconds. They set up a basic attack, with the ball getting trapped at the castle and then being rocketed towards the goals, but a brave charge-down stopped Pionier’s first real attempt. 

After a few more unsuccessful short corners, Pionier magiced up an equalizer after a scramble in the St Dom’s circle resulted in the ball slipping across the line. The game was then 1 all with only 2 and a half minutes of play left. St Dom’s response was a solitary break from midfield with the player running out of turf, pushing the ball in from the right only to find no support from her players. 

As the game time ran out, the action moved to the pressure spot where three players from each team got a chance for a penalty shoot out. Pionier started the proceedings nailing the first one, with St Dom’s rising to the challenge, and also finding the back of the box on their first penalty. The second round saw both teams slot in their attempts. In the final round Pionier’s Berne van Heerden’s flick went wide giving St Dom’s captain, Nosipho Magula’s a tournament winning chance but it wasn’t to be as her attempt agonisingly didn’t get the rewards. 

The title of the tournament went to sudden death with St Dom’s stepping up to the spot first. Abudo earlier game time success didn’t continue to the spot and her chance went abegging giving Pionier’s Charnique Oosthuizen a tournament winning chance. Oosthuizen rose to the occasion, pummelling in her shot, past the advances of keeper, van Rhyn and earning the regional honours for Pionier. 

Pionier is the third team to earn the title of Northern KZN champion, claiming the title from the defending champs Ferrum, who have won the trophy eight times. Pionier met Ferrum in the second semi final and knocked out the defending champs with two goals scored by Oosthuizen and Kayla Becker. In the first semi final, St Dom’s were victorious with a 2 nil win against Dundee High School. Awande Mbuli and Vanessa Abudo netted the two for St Dom’s in the semi. 

Pionier is the first team to earn a spot at the Grand Finals which will take place at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof in July. This weekend (7 & * March) the tournament continues with two more regionals taking place at Durban Girls’ College and Ashton International. 

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page and follow on Instagram.

ENDS

Realness Institute Celebrates Sundance Win and Extends Call For 2020 Applications

Media Release

Realness Institute Celebrates Sundance Win and Extends Call For 2020 Applications

The first film produced from the Realness African Screenwriters’ Residency This is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection, directed by Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese's (Realness 2017) and produced by Urucu Media's Cait Pansegrouw and Elias Ribeiro competed in the 2020 Sundance Film Festival's World Dramatic Competition section to critical review, and  was awarded the Special Jury Prize for Visionary Filmmaking at a ceremony last night in Park City, Utah, USA.

“Delicate and strong, this director told a little story of resistance and made it universal,” said the World Dramatic Competition Jury’s citation. “The composition of images, the visual phrase and the story of this film moved us. One of the most beautiful films of our Sundance 2020.”

“Realness Institute has been designed as a platform that caters to the full spectrum of the production line in a way that can push the African film industry forward. Core to the program’s development is the view that African cinema is a central market in the new sphere of the global cultural economy,” says Elias Ribeiro, co-founder of Realness.

The Realness Screenwriter’s Residency is dedicated to providing African film projects with the support and resources needed at the critical development stage of a film. The programme ensures that talent is given the space to mature their work, such that they develop films that can compete in the international film finance market, travel and appeal to international audiences.

Realness offers a natural environment that allows filmmakers to stretch their creativity and drive their craft under mentorship from industry experts. The residency takes the form of a six-week stay at the Nirox Foundation situated in the scenic Cradle of Humankind in South Africa.

This programme caters for filmmakers with distinct voices and perspectives, who are devoted to their craft and have a steadfast passion for cinema. Filmmakers with feature fiction film treatments and/ or scripts that are at least 60% filmed on the African Continent.

Creative Producer Indaba is a year-long professional development programme, providing emerging producers with the necessary tools and leadership skills to pursue their craft, as well as capacity to operate sustainable businesses at a strategic level.

Creative Producer Indaba is aimed at producers (with and without projects) from Africa; producers from North America and Europe with an interest in co-producing with Africa,

Film Professionals from other disciplines such as distribution, international sales, funding bodies, institutions, broadcasters and development executives with a stake in the African marketplace.

The deadline for the 2020 Residency and Indaba has been extended to February 15

For more information go to realness.institute

To apply submit a completed application to submissions@realness.institute

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Well-known KZN Conservationist Sheelagh Antrobus accepted as Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in the UK

Media Release

Well-known KZN Conservationist Sheelagh Antrobus accepted as Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in the UK

Well-known KwaZulu-Natal conservationist Sheelagh Antrobus has just been accepted as a Fellow of the prestigious Royal Geographical Society, the professional body that advances geography and supports related fields of interest across the globe.

Antrobus, the founder of conservation organisation Project Rhino, is one of the integral members of the Kingsley Holgate Foundation expedition team, which specialises in using geographic adventures to conduct humanitarian work and raise awareness about Africa’s endangered wildlife. This South Africa-based Foundation now boasts four Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society including Ross Holgate, who heads up the Foundation, Mike Nixon, the celebrated mountain biker who cycles the expeditions, and the legendary adventurer and humanitarian himself, Kingsley Holgate. 

Over the past three years, Sheelagh has been part of the team that completed three world first expeditions in their Land Rover Discoverys. In 2017, they reached Africa’s most easterly point in Somalia on the Horn of Africa; in 2018, a transcontinental journey took them from Cape Town to Kathmandu in Nepal and onto India; more recently in 2019, their east-to-west Zambezi to Congo expedition included helping the Doctors for Life volunteer medical team to conduct life-changing eye operations. Intrinsically embedded into all their expeditions, which continue to be supported by Land Rover, is communicating the urgent need to conserve Africa’s wildlife and in particular, the rhino.

Antrobus’s love for wildlife led her to set up the award-winning, aerial anti-poaching unit, the Zululand Anti-Poaching Wing (ZAP-Wing) that supports more than 20 game reserves collectively holding the second-largest remaining population of rhinos left in the world. In 2016 she received the prestigious Rhino Conservation Award from the Game Rangers Association of Africa. She is one of the founders of Rhino and Elephant Art, a youth conservation programme that uses educational school lessons and community football matches to engender a passion for wildlife amongst young people, as well as the World Youth Wildlife Summit series, which works towards building a new generation of conservation leaders across Africa and the world.

"Through these Land Rover Discovery expeditions we have traversed Africa and beyond, visiting more than 25 countries in the past three years,” says Antrobus. “We have been very blessed to have such incredible opportunities to go to places where few “outsiders” venture in our modern world. While doing our humanitarian and conservation work, we see some incredible sights, meet extraordinary people from many cultures, and are able to report back on some of the remotest and often forgotten locations in Africa.”

To be accepted as a Fellow of the 190-year-old Royal Geographical Society, a person must have sufficient involvement in geography or an allied subject through their training, profession, research and publications, or demonstrate expertise in related fields such as the environment, conservation and ecology. 

Previous RGS Fellows include Sir Charles Darwin, Dr David Livingstone, polar explorers Sir Ernest Shackleton and Sir Robert Scott, mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, Michael Palin and Joanna Lumley.

Speaking from Afrika House on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, an excited Antrobus said, “I am still pinching myself, this is a huge honour for me.  It is quite incredible that there are now four of us in the Kingsley Holgate expedition team who are now Fellows of the RGS.  Holding a Fellowship opens up many doors to network and share information, but it comes with some important responsibilities, such as continually enhancing geographical knowledge and understanding of related critical issues among the wider public. I say a heartfelt thank you to all the people in my life – family, friends, colleagues and associates – who have helped me get to where I am today, and I hope that this encourages other women to get out there and explore the amazing wild places of this beautiful continent, be courageous enough to follow their passion, whatever it may be, and stand up for a cause they feel strongly about.”

And plans for the foreseeable future? “Christmas with family, relaxing after a rather busy year, and planning for our next Land Rover geographic adventure in 2020, which will continue to focus on raising awareness of the crisis facing Africa’s endangered wildlife, particularly the rhino, alongside our humanitarian endeavours.”

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Action in Autism to open Skills Transfer and Business Centre

Media Release

 Action in Autism to  open Skills Transfer and Business Centre

Action in Autism, the non-profit and disabled people’s organisation that supports and resource to autistic people and their families, has embarked on a new exciting, pioneering project, the Action in Autism Skills Transfer and Business Centre which will officially open on November 9, 2019.

This Centre will develop and provide skills and employment opportunities for people with autism and associated neurological conditions. The project will officially be launched at a special function on 9 November at the Action in Autism Centre in Parkhill, Durban.

The landmark occasion will include invited dignitaries, the Ningizimu Special School steel band, a musical performance by young people on the spectrum, and the creation of a commemorative artwork. 

“It is great to have such a centre opened for autistic people,” says Aavishkar Sewpersad, who is autistic and has worked at the Action in Autism Centre as a part-time administrator for the past year. “They will be empowered to learn skills that will make them feel valuable in society. Everyone has some potential to do things, all they need is love, guidance and perseverance, and this is what they will get at this Centre.”

In South Africa, employment for people with disability hovers around a paltry 1%. Included in the many reasons for this persistent problem are high and often unrealistic entry requirements, insufficient support and accommodation, and unfair workplace discrimination. “Following the guidelines derived from both our Constitution and the Employment Equity Act, No 55 of 1998, Action in Autism believes that the creation of a Skills Transfer Centre for autistic people will contribute towards finding practical, customised solutions to this dire unemployment problem for people with disabilities,” says Liza Aziz, the organisation’s Chairperson. “Autistic people have great potential to enrich any workplace through their unique perspective, their neuro-diversity and problem solving skills, their dedication, dependability and hard work.  It is their right to contribute to society, creating more inclusive working environments, a diverse market economy, as well as a more inclusive and humane society.”

Most people with autism are confined to home once they leave school. The vast majority are unable to access employment, in addition, these scarce job placements have only been available to those who have low support needs and are diagnosed with level 1 autism. The proposed skills transference centre will kick-start and accelerate autistic people’s entry into the formal economy and will include a modified workspace, a calming or downtime space, supervised, visual work schedules, skills assessment and training from an experienced Occupational Therapist, facilitators from specialised fields to provide expertise and skills transfer, and a work-integrated learning environment for ease of movement into the market place and maximum skills development.

Dr Adam Mahomed, benefactor and long-time friend of the organisation, funded the modification of the Skills Development Centre with the services of Natal Construction, and the organisation continues to work hard to secure further donors to equip and sustain the Centre. If anyone would like to contribute to this new initiative, or for more information about the Centre Opening, the programme and how the organisation can support adults with autism, please contact the Centre on 031 563 3039, or email info@actioninautism.org.za. 

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SPAR KZN Schoolgirl’s Fast 5’s Netball Midlands Tournament Voortrekker High School: Saturday 5 October

SPAR KZN Schoolgirl’s Fast 5’s Netball

Midlands Tournament

Voortrekker High School: Saturday 5 October

Wrapping up the inaugural SPAR KZN Schoolgirls' Fast 5’s Netball tournament, St Anne’s College claimed the Midlands title at Voortrekker High School on Saturday 5 October.

In a low scoring, high action final, St Anne’s met The Wykeham Collegiate. Wykeham got the game underway, but St Anne’s intercepted their first charge upfield. Basketing the first goal, after two attempts on both ends, Jamie Rowe from Wykeham Collegiate nailed her shot after a floated pass from the wily centre, 3 minutes and 7 seconds had ticked away of the first half.

The Wykeham Collegiate dominated the first half with the scoreline, just after 6 minutes, being in their favour 4 - 1. St Anne’s clawed their way back with Jodi Lee and Shannon Armstrong both getting their names on the scoreboard as half time approached. The score sat at 4 – 3 as the girls took a breather midway through the game.

After their half time chat, St Anne’s levelled the score shortly after the second half started. Armstrong was on song in the second half finding the middle of the hoop for her team, edging the score up to 4 a piece, and then after two unsuccessful attempts on both ends, she earned her team the lead for the first time in the game.

Julie Trodd from TWC then landed the equaliser on the opposite end, following up on a shot that agonisingly spun around the hoop and popped out. Three more attempts on either end didn’t budge the scoreline, including a 2 point that glanced the lip of the hoop by St Anne’s.

Rowe reclaimed the lead for her team with another 1 point but the lead was short lived as Armstrong was allowed some space and with her eye in, levelled the score for St Anne’s again. With time running out, Armstrong calmly fired in another 1 point, with the score being 7 in favour to Wykeham’s 6. In the dying second, The Wykeham Collegiate quickly responded as they ran the ball up in their last gasp attempt with the ball flying tantalising goal-wards but the pressure shot fell short as St Anne’s celebrated.

A visibly ecstatic Coach for St Anne’s, Londeka Zuma stated, “Look I am shaking, what a game. So exciting! Wykeham Collegiate was an amazing team to play in the final, but our defence won us the game!”

Their day started on a winning streak where they took on Epworth in their first pool game, bagging their first win 10 – 2. At the conclusion of the pool games, St Anne’s had netted 62 goals, and topped the leaderboard with 15 points, Epworth finishing in second spot and earning themselves a place in the semi - finals.

Wykeham Collegiate got their ball rolling with a win in their first pool game where they trounced St John’s D.S.G 17 - 1. At the conclusion of the pool games, TWC had wins throughout, with 15 points alongside their name and an incredible 87 goals scored. Host team, Voortrekker A were second on the log and met St Anne’s in the first semi – final.

St Anne’s dominated their first semi-final with the score at half time sitting on 6 – 4. In the second half they doubled their score, with a drought on the end of the host school, barring a sublime 3 pointer floating in by Tamika Baker taking the score up to 12 - 7. Baker was acknowledged during the prize giving for knocking in three golden 3 pointers during the day.

Umpire for the Day was Ntuthuko Zondi representing TWC.

The foundation has been set for the successful format in the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls' Fast 5’s Netball with a total of 46 schools participating in the four regional tournaments. The first four winners that have their names engraved on the trophy are in the first SPAR KZN Schoolgirls' Fast 5’s Netball are Hillcrest High School – Durban Regional; Creston College – Southern KZN Regional; Tholokuhle High School - North Coastal Regional and St Anne’s College – Midlands Regional.

Dates and venues for the second year of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls' Fast 5’s Netball will be announced early in 2020. For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram.

Results: 

1 St Anne’s College, 2 The Wykeham Collegiate, 3= Epworth School, 3= Voortrekker High School A, 5= St Nicholas School, 5= Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High, 7= Voortrekker High School B, 7= St John’s D.S.G., 9 = Maritzburg Christian School, 9= Russel High School, 9= Wartburg Kirchdorf School

ENDS

Cape Town’s Yaseen Manuel wins Pick of the Fringe Award at JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience In Durban

Cape Town’s Yaseen Manuel wins Pick of the Fringe Award at JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience In Durban

Cape Town dance-maker Yaseen Manuel received the Pick of the Fringe award for his work “Maktub” at this year's JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience Fringe event at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on Thursday, 4 September.

The prestigious award, providing him with support and a platform to present a new work at next year’s JOMBA!, was awarded by a committee comprising 2018 Standard Bank Young Artist for Dance and well-known South African dance-maker Musa Hlatshwayo, veteran dance writer and critic Adrienne Sichel and Prof Ketu Katrak (Department of Drama, University of California [Irvine] USA).

The work “Maktub” (meaning “our destiny” in Arabic ) was inspired by a line from an Islamic reading that one of the very first messages  was revealed through the “necklace of Yemen”.  “I took this idea and directed and choreographed it into a journey of man having no purpose on earth and trying to find what faith could bring us ,” explains Manuel. “Once the message through the necklace is revealed it helps find a pathway, a purpose for religion and understanding God’s intention for man.”

Manuel who only started dancing at 18 years, is a dancer and choreographer who aspires to tell his stories through movement drawing on this own spiritual and personal life’s journey. He currently works independently, but has worked extensively with the Cape Town-based Jazzart Dance Theatre and Unmute Dance Theatre, performing a variety of dance styles.

 “I am really grateful and honoured to have received the award, especially as it opens up the opportunity for me to dig further into my exploration of the work. It has also made me realize that if you do things with love and intention as you tell your story, you are able to find who you are as an artist – and great things can come from this,” he says.

Next up Manuel will perform at the Baxter Dance Festival opening on 26 September with a collaborative production "Unraveled” and will also perform “Maktub” at the fest with Sifiso Khumalo of the Flatfoot Dance Company on 1 and 2 October.

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Buddha in Africa - for Hilton Arts Festival

Media Release

Award-winning documentary from KwaZulu-Natal Midlands at Hilton Arts Festival

Buddha in Africa, the award-winning documentary, by KwaZulu-Natal Midlands based filmmaker, Nicole Schafer, will screen at this year’s Hilton Arts Festival next weekend (14 and 15 September).

This powerful documentary that follows the intimate story of a Malawian teenager growing up in a Chinese Buddhist orphanage in Africa, was recently awarded “Best South African Documentary” at the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF). DIFF is included as a Documentary Feature Qualifying Festival by the Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences, which means that Buddha in Africa, automatically qualifies for consideration for an Oscar nomination.

The film had its World premiere at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in April, and opened the Encounters Documentary Festival in Cape Town and Johannesburg in June where it received a Backsberg Encounters Audience Award.  It was also in the official selection at this year’s Sydney International Film Festival in June.

The film has its European Premiere coming up at the Visioni dal Mondo International Documentary Festival in Milan over the same weekend as the Hilton Arts Festival (14 Sept) and will also show at the Unicef Innocenti Film Festival in Florence in October to commemorate 30 Years of the signing of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.  Knysna residents can also look forward to seeing the film at the Knysna film festival at the end of October.

First-time feature director, Nicole Schafer, says: “Its been hugely rewarding to see the different responses the film has generated amongst audiences locally and internationally and I am encouraged by the conversations that have emerged around the film. I am also overwhelmed by the incredible support we have received from local audiences with full houses for nearly every screening to date.”

The film is an international co-production with Momento Films in Sweden and Paris-based documentary sales company, CAT and Docs is representing the film internationally. AfriDocs is the African broadcast partner.

Nicole Schafer is an independent documentary filmmaker from South Africa and founder of Thinking Strings Media based in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. Her long-term vision is to support the production of creative documentaries and content in the province. The company also provides services in video production and editing. They are also in the process of organizing the Umbono Film Festival aimed at the youth in partnership with Michaelhouse School and the Michaelhouse Community Partnership Trust.

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/buddhainafrica

Website:www.thinkingstringsmedia.com

Trailer Link Facebook:

https://facebook.com/buddhainafrica/videos/2409166019303775

Screening dates & times: Hilton Arts Festival, Hilton College, KwaZulu-Natal

Sat 14th 5:30 pm, CFI Lecture Theatre (Director in attendance for a Q&A) 

Ticket bookings: https://www.hiltonfestival.co.za/events/buddha-in-africa/

Sun 15th 10:00 am, Lecture Theatre B  - Durban Film Festival Programme (Free Admission)

ends

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BUDDHA IN AFRICA

HD Documentary: 93 min (South Africa/Sweden) 2019 

“Best South African Documentary” Durban International Film Festival

Opening Night - Encounters South African Documentary Festival

World Premiere - Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival

Sydney International Film Festival

SYNOPSIS

Enock Alu, a Malawian teenager growing up in a Chinese Buddhist orphanage, feels torn between his African roots and Chinese upbringing.  Once the star performer with dreams of becoming a martial arts hero like Jet Li, Enock, in his final year of school, has to make some tough decisions about his future.  Will he return to his relatives in his home village or study abroad in Taiwan? Set against China's expanding influence on the continent, Buddha in Africa provides a unique insight into the forces of cultural soft power on the identity and imagination of an African boy and his school friends growing up between two cultures.

Bio (cont)

Nicole Schafer (1980) has lived in Malawi where she produced award-winning stories for Reuters pan-African magazine show Africa Journal.  Other production credits include South Africa’s leading investigative programme Carte Blanche, Lonely Planet TV’s Six Degrees and Sport Traveller broadcast on Discovery Channel.  She has an MFA degree in Film and Television production from the University of Cape Town.  Her thesis film, The Ballad of Rosalind Ballingall was shown at the Frijbourg Film festival in 2006.

Free Workshops at JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience (27 Aug - 8 Sept)

Media Release

JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience

Free Dance & Choreographic Workshops

The JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN) offers an array of free dance and choreographic workshops during this year’s 21st edition, which takes place a various venues in Durban from August 27 to 8 September.

Wednesday 28 August

Workshop facilitators: Sifiso Kweyama and the JAZZART dancers

4pm – 5.40pm: (KwaMashu Sports Hall) - youth dance workshop (ages 8 upwards)

4.30pm – 6pm: (UKZN Dance Studio) Jazzart Dance Theatre will offer an African contemporary dance experience by exploring the use of weight, defying gravity and allowing all participants to contribute choreographically to a final combination.  All abilities and levels welcome but only for those over 16yrs.

Thursday 29 August 9am to 1pm (Playhouse - Studio 410)

Workshop facilitator: Sifiso Kweyama (JAZZART Dance Theatre)

This 4 hour intensive masterclass is for semi-professional and professional dancers only and is a rare opportunity to engage the training and style of JAZART with one of South Africa’s best contemporary dance teachers.

Saturday 31 August: 10am – 12noon (UKZN Dance Studio)

Workshop facilitator: Fana Tshabalala

In an exploration of a growing style that accesses ritual and contemporary dance technique, Fana will take participant on a journey of artistically connecting with themselves and their own growing style as dancers and choreographers. All abilities and levels welcome but only for those over 16yrs.

Sunday 1 September:  10am to 12noon (UKZN Dance Studio)

Workshop facilitator: Leslie Scott (New Orleans – USA)

Throughout this class, dancers will investigate the articulation of the arms, legs, and torso in order to integrate the whole body in motion. Scott’s approach to movement is through dynamic energy rather than static forms, and she constantly plays with traditional placement and wild abandonment. Scott believes dancing is a communal experience and together participants will sweat, groove, and let loose.  All abilities and levels welcome but only for those over 16yrs

Thursday 5 September:  4.30pm – 6.30pm) (UKZN Dance Studio)

Workshop facilitator: Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Dance Company (Washington – USA)

In this workshop participants will gain an understanding of our signature hybrid work (traditional Bharatanatyam and Contemporary dance technique) through interactive experiences that highlight elements of choreography, improvisation, creativity and collaboration. All abilities and levels welcome but only for those over 16yrs.

Friday 6 September): 4.30pm – 6.30pm (UKZN Dance Studio)

Workshop facilitator: Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe In a physically intense workshop that explore the lexicon of dance styles and techniques that make up Mantsoe’s signature style, participants of this workshop will get an up close and personal experience with the legendary Mantsoe. This workshop is not for beginners – and only those over 16yrs.   

To book a place in these workshops, e-mail jombafestival@gmail.com at least 2 days in advance of the workshop

For more information go to http://jomba.ukzn.ac.za/

ends

21st JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience 27 August - 8 September 2019

Media Release

21st JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience

27 August - 8 September 2019

The Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN) and eThekwini Municipality host the 21st JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience at various venues around the City of Durban from 27 August to 8 September 2019.

This year's 21st birthday edition offers a hearty buffet packed full of the world’s best contemporary dance that will titillate, challenge, and entertain audiences of all ages and art inclinations. 

The celebrated Cape Town-based Jazzart opens the festival with their JOMBA! debut. In their programme Sifiso Kweyama's Cape of Ghosts digs deep to find the core of what constitutes the ownership of land in a beautiful and politically evocative work. 

Durban's own Boyzie Cekwana collaborates with Lebanese dance maker Danya Hammoud in an intimate dance theatre experience that offers these two extraordinary dancers in a duet called Bootlegged, that speaks to the interior politics of relationships. 

Fana Tshabalala, joins JOMBA! as the UKZN Mellon Foundation Artist-in-residence collaborating with the Flatfoot Dance Company in an explosive premiere. Called amaVendors, Tshabalala and Flatfoot explore the journey of women and men who wake up every day to sell in the streets to provide for themselves and their loved ones. Fusing ritual and performance, Tshabalala takes audiences on a transformative journey. Tshabala also presents his solo MAN inspired by the ideal kind of a "Man" within society and how the roles and responsibilities have changed over the years - as new type of "Man" is emerging.. 

One of the leading dance companies in Washington, the Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company, which is funded for this season by the US Consulate, presents work that sees the confluence of the ancient Indian style of Bharatha Natyam with the ethos and flow of contemporary modern dance. 

From Durban’s twin city of New Orleans comes Leslie Scott's company Body Art in an intriguing site-responsive work for the Durban Art Gallery, which will take audiences on a journey into the very heart of contemporary popular identity. Scott's dance work, hymn + them is about the joys of going away, of leaving the greyness and entering the colour. “Over the Rainbow” is, or ought to be, the anthem of all the world's migrants, all those who go in search of the place where the dreams really do come true.

The DAG event will also see a unique collection of short films guest curated by Brazilian filmmaker Sofía Castro who has been living and working in Argentina, and has collected five short dance films by Argentinian filmmakers/choreographers that explore the interior and exterior life of contemporary South American life. 

South Africa's icon of African contemporary dancer, Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe, offers the world premiere of his new work SoliiDad, an abstract journey to oblivion. Mantsoe is considered to be one of the founding fathers of South African contemporary dance and now spends his time between France and South Arica teaching, choreographing and doing masterclasses.

Mantsoe is set in a double bill with Johannesburg-based Lulu Mlangeni – a young dance maker that is taking the country by storm who will present her duet called The Encounter a brave and unflinching contemporary journey into African spirituality and belonging. 

 ‘JOMBA! On The Edge' grants have been awarded to Sizwe Hlophe and Thulisile Binda. to premier new creations and are given mentorship and the full support of the JOMBA! technical team to realise their work for the stage. 

The 2019 JOMBA! FRINGE offers the premier of nine new dance works by JC Zondi (Pietermaritzburg), Carla Mostert (Durban), David April with students of the University of Pretoria, Lethiwe Mzimela (Durban), Nkanyiso Mazibuko (Durban), Vuyo Ndawonde (Pietermaritzburg), Sbonelo Mchunu (Durban), Yaseen Manuel (Cape Town) and Jabu Siphika (Durban).

The festival’s ever-popular JOMBA! Youth Fringe will feature over 18 youth dance groups from  eThekwini and KwaZulu Natal.

A series of workshops and masterclasses (all free) are offered in various venues in the eThekwini area and they are open to all – booking is essential.

Tickets are R80 and R60 for Student/scholar/pensioner/group booking of more than x10, and available through Computicket.

For more information go to http://jomba.ukzn.ac.za/

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Crawford La Lucia finished a fantastic fifth in Grand Finals in SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Crawford La Lucia

In their first appearance, Crawford La Lucia representing the Durban North Region at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge finished a fantastic fifth overall.

The newcomers were drawn in Pool B where they took on top teams Durban Girls’ College (DBN Central Regional Winners) and St Anne’s College (PMB North Regional Winners) as well as travelling teams Felixton College from Richards Bay (North Coastal Regional Winners) and Wartburg Kirchdorf School (Umvoti, uThukela and Umzinyathi Regional Winners).

Having a challenging start to their first Grand Finals, in their first pool game on Saturday, Crawford went down by only one goal against Durban Girls’ College and lost by a narrow 2 goal margin against St Anne’s in their second pool game. The Durban North team went 2 nil up against Felixton in their third game and finished with another 2 nil victory against Toti.

In the cross pool playoff, Crawford met Newcastle’s Ferrum High School (Northern KZN Regional Winners) and yet again netted two goals for their third win which advanced them to the fifth place positional game. Here they met Kokstad College in a feisty fifth-placed final. Jess Brown netted two for her team and Georgia Vorster added in one giving their team a well crafted 3 nil victory and memorable start to their Grand Final stats.

Justin Collins, Coach for Crawford said, “It was an incredible experience that was combined with a professional environment on and off the field! Everything ran like clock work and the standard of hockey was great! Massive thank you to SPAR and the organising committee!

Crawford La Lucia – Durban North Regional Winner – Fifth (2019)

Ferrum High School finished eighth overall at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge.

Ferrum High School

In their eighth appearance Ferrrum High School finished eighth overall at the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge.

In their pool they met defending champions, St Mary’s DSG (Highway Regional Winners), Epworth School (PMB Central Regional Winners), and teams that also travelled to the tournament – Wartburg Kirchdorf School (Umvoti, uThukela and Umzinyathi Regional Winners) and Kokstad College (Southern KZN Regional Winners).

In their first game of the tournament, they took on Wartburg where at the end of full time the score was 1 all. In their second game against Epworth, Ferrum battled to get the attack out of the circle as the Pietermaritzburg school dominated, slotting in 6 goals. In a riveting match against the defending champions, Ferrum pulled a rabbit out of the hat by scoring a surprise goal mid game and drawing first blood. For agonizing minutes Ferrum held strong as St Mary’s tried to get off their back foot and try to break the Ferrum defence. The host school netted four quick fire goals as the clock wound down to the end of the game, with the final score being 4-1 to the champs. In the last pool game Ferrum went up against Kokstad, and finishing their day as they started, the game ended level with both teams scoring one goal.

On Sunday, in the very first cross pool playoff, they met Crawford La Lucia who didn’t wait long to find the back of the net. At the end of full time, Crawford had managed to score 2 goals, sending Kokstad into the final playoff for position seven and eight. Here they met Richards Bay’s Felixton College. Felixton managed to go 1 nil up and then defend their score, with the whistle blowing and snaffling the seventh place, meaning Kokstad would have to settle of eighth overall.

Ferrum High School – Northern KZN Regional Winner – Fifth (2012, 2015), Sixth (2011, 2018), Eighth (2019), Ninth (2017), Tenth (2013, 2014)

Kingsley Holgate Land Rover Expedition Team Heads to Mozambique in Aid of Flood Victims on World Malaria Day (25 April)

Media Release

WORLD MALARIA DAY  - 25 April

KINGSLEY HOLGATE LAND ROVER EXPEDITION TEAM HEADS FOR MOZAMBIQUE IN AID OF FLOOD VICTIMS

Departing on World Malaria Day (25 April), the Kingsley Holgate Land Rover team is heading to Mozambique on a relief expedition to assist communities living near Gorongosa National Park, who are still suffering the impact of Cyclone Idai, widespread flooding and now a serious and escalating threat of malaria. 

Malaria is the leading cause of death in Mozambique, which has the third highest number of malaria cases anywhere in the world.  A month after Cyclone Idai slammed into Beira and left a swathe of destruction on its path inland towards Zimbabwe’s Chimanimani region leaving vast areas flooded, malaria is on the increase with 9,501 cases reported since 27 March alongside 4,979 cases of cholera.  (Source: UN OCHA) 

The expedition is heading for the Gorongosa region inland from Beira, where over 30,000 people living in low-lying areas near the Buzi River that flows along the Gorongosa National Park boundary were in the direct path of the cyclone and large areas are still under water.  The Park responded by launching its own relief efforts to rescue community members by helicopter and boat, its rangers swopping wildlife for humanitarian work and wading through waist-high waters to reach stranded families.  They have delivered over 30 tonnes of food but the threat of contaminated drinking water and malaria remains extremely high: stagnant water is a perfect breeding ground for malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

Malaria prevention and water purification support are key elements of all Holgate humanitarian expeditions.  “It started because of personal experiences,” said Kingsley.  “I’ve had malaria more than 50 times, a young man died of malaria in one of our vehicles as we were rushing him to a clinic and it’s unacceptable that a child dies of malaria every two minutes around the clock.  And all of our expedition team know the dangers of water borne diseases – we’ve all suffered from dysentery, which can kill even the toughest man.”

The expedition to Gorongosa will focus on supplying 15 tonnes of life-saving PermaNet mosquito nets, malaria test kits and treatments, and enough water purification units to provide over one million litres of clean drinking water in support of Gorongosa’s efforts.  The expedition convoy will include the two Land Rover Discoverys tried and tested on previous world-first expeditions, including the recent Cape Town to Kathmandu transcontinental journey.

“No one could have predicted that this year’s World Malaria Day would coincide with the aftermath of such an enormous humanitarian disaster,” said expedition leader Ross Holgate.  “Now that roads, bridges and river crossings are becoming passable in the Gorongosa region, we’re determined to do our bit to help our neighbours in need.”

He continued:  “Relief expeditions like this cannot be done without support, and we pay tribute to Land Rover, Rotarians in Southern Africa, Moz-am-bik Restaurants, the Hlokomela Foundation, Coca Cola SABCO Mozambique, Goodbye Malaria, Barrows, LifeStraws and Water Maker who have willingly come on board to support this World Malaria Day expedition.”

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For further details and interviews, please contact Sheelagh Antrobus on 082-4327466 or sheelagh@kingsleyholgatefoundation.org

STATS AND INFO ABOUT MALARIA/ WATER BORNE DISEASES

• According to the latest World Health Organization report, 219 million cases of malaria were reported during 2017, with 92% occurring in Africa.  435 000 people died from the disease.

• A child dies every two minutes from malaria; children under 5 accounted for 61% (266 000) of all malaria deaths worldwide in 2017.  Pregnant women are also at high risk.

• Kingsley Holgate has had malaria more than 50 times.

• To date, the Kingsley Holgate Foundation has distributed over 440 920 mosquito nets in high-risk communities throughout Africa, helping to protect over 1.3 million people from the deadly bite of the female Anopheles mosquito.

• ]Nearly one in five child deaths – about 1.5 million each year – are due to water borne diseases, especially from cholera, dysentery and diarrhoea.

• To date, the Kingsley Holgate Foundation has distributed more than 46 000 individual LifeStraw units and family-size units, providing over 63 million litres of clean drinking water to communities most in need.

Whacky Comedian Gino Fabbri is ‘Completely Nuts’ 9 - 13 April

Media Release

Whacky Comedian Gino Fabbri Returns to Durban with ‘Completely Nuts’

Laughter abounds and the spotlight falls squarely on ‘crazy’ as comedian/drummer Gino Fabbri returns to Durban with his laugh-a-minute comedy Gino Fabbri is Completely Nuts which has two shows at the Suncoast Barnyard Theatre on 4 and 6 April before moving to the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from 9 to 14 April. 

Versatile, and outrageously hilarious funny-man, Fabbri was last seen in the madcap show ‘Common and Class’  at the Sneddon alongside celebrated musical theatre performer Ian Von Memerty. Going solo in “Completely Nuts” Gino describes the show as “a welcome anti-dote to deep thinking,” as he performs in the guise of many very diverse, over-the-top characters, each with their own set of life-views, observations and opinions.”

Each “character” delivers a belly-load of rapid-fire one-liner laugh lines that offers a view of  life from vastly different and highly amusing perspectives. 

‘Sanity’ is not a word very often associated with Fabbri – or more specifically, with the hair-brained completely crazy characters that he portrays: from a self-deceiving Latin Lover and  an over-zealous, hip thrusting excessively rule-bound traffic cop, to a talentless pop-idol wannabe with parental and self-esteem issues, and a wheeler-dealer businessman who battles to prevent his inner monologue from spilling out to an entertainer extraordinaire who is a lot less extraordinary than he thinks. 

The multi-talented Fabbri, who is also a renowned SA drummer, includes three show-stopping finales in the show, taking his audience on a musical journey through the evolution of the most recognizable rock drum fills before turning classical music on its head like never seen before.

Fabbri’s characters share an inability to accurately perceive exactly what is going on around them, all the while trying to compensate for their short-comings. In doing so, hilarious consequences ensue as Fabbri moves from naughty stand-up comedian to quirky singer. 

The Eastern Cape-based Fabbri has become a popular fixture on the national corporate entertainment stage, where is seen regularly appearing in the guise of his various characters as  musical comedy MC.

Fabbri, who is co-owner of the production company Centrestage, which has staged a number of hit shows in Durban over the years says, “I invite Durban audiences to get committed - come walk the tightrope between sanity and madness and find out for yourself if I am indeed “nuttier than a pile of squirrel droppings”, in the full knowledge that one thing will always be certain, you’ll be none the wiser after seeing this show!”

“It isn’t everyday that we get to have a really good ol’ belly laugh at ourselves and who better than the hilarious Gino Fabbri to share with us exactly how quirky we all are,”  says Louise Howell, Suncoast Marketing Manager.

The show is at Sneddon Theatre from April 9 to 14 and tickets are available through Computicket

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I Heart Market Saturday, 6 April : 9am - 2pm

I Heart Market

Saturday, 6 April : 9am - 2pm

Moses Mabhida Stadium lawns

The iconic Durban I Heart Market takes place this month on Saturday, 6 April from 9am to 2pm on the breezy lawns of the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

The market, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, is focused on providing a selection of carefully curated locally made goods, with artisan food, crafted apparel and everything in between for the whole family.  

“The market’s philosophy is all about the creative process of “making”,” explains owner and manager of the I Heart Market, Anna Savage. “It has become a place where people who have side projects going on and who want to take it further, or those who simply love to create, have opportunities to test out their products in a safe and honouring environment, where like-minded people come to shop and share.”

“We live in a society of relentless consumption, where the possessions we’ve had for a few months tend to outnumber those we’ve had for a few years,” says Anna. “It’s often cheaper to replace something than it is to fix it so we keep on buying inferior items. Products at the I heart Market are carefully designed with attention to detail, resulting in quality products that will live through your most ruthless spring clean or Marie Kondo declutter, as well as the test of time.”

Anna says that there are so many stories to tell about the experiences of some of the “I heart makers”. “For example when her house started filling up with pottery, Gwyneth Gosling decided to see if anyone would buy some so she started Beachcomber Pots which now enjoys great support at the market and beyond.”

Nikhil Tricam started leatherwork as a hobby and would post pictures of his work on social media. With a positive response and a surge in orders, he took on an assistant. After a short while, he says that his small business, NT Leather Studio was sustaining his assistant’s family and this gave him the drive to keep growing.

“There is a lot to be said about shopping local and supporting entrepreneurs,” says Anna. “Shopping like this means no more soulless transactions with dead-eyed sales assistants.  When you’re shopping local, you can meet the person who makes the things you love. You can ask them all the questions and if you have any feedback, no more braving the call centre, they can hear it firsthand. Many traders develop new products or change existing ones based on what you are saying. And that’s pretty cool, we think!”

For more information about the I Heart Market go to www.iheartmarket.com

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Phase 1 of the Action in Autism Skills Transference Centre Gets off the Ground

Media Release

Phase 1 of the Action in Autism Skills Transference Centre Gets off the Ground

Action in Autism, the Durban-based organisation that strives to improve the quality of life for autistic people and their care-givers, has embarked on the next phase of its exciting journey - the development of a Skills Transference Workspace that will lead to small and micro-enterprise businesses to sustain and upskill people with neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism.

Generous humanitarian and funder of the project, Dr Adam Mahomed, joined the Action in Autism team and the children of the Early Intervention Centre to wish the project well as modifications on existing buildings began on the new Skills Transference and Business Hub for autistic adults.

Most people with autism are confined to home once they leave school, and the vast majority are unable to access employment. In addition, these scarce employment opportunities have only been available to those who have low support needs. The Action in Autism Skills Transference Centre will include all people on the spectrum. The workspace is being modified specifically for autistic people with self-regulatory and downtime spaces, a craft area, sewing room, storeroom and a training workshop. The programme will include supervised work schedules, skills assessment and support, and expert facilitators in specialised fields to provide skills development.

The project will include on-site training and micro enterprises in the fields of food gardening and indigenous plant propagation, catering, and art and craft industries, in which the participants will have shared ownership and be skilled in the administration and management of these micro businesses. The programme will provide on-site skills development at the Skills Transference Centre, and work integrated learning within companies or government agencies, resulting in an important entry point into the labour market for autistic adults. 

Dr Mahomed is sponsoring the first phase of the new Skills Transference workspace in the memory of his late wife and daughters. “It has become important to me to question the value of life beyond the surface of cars and houses and such things,” Dr Adam commented in his speech. “It is important to question what a life means, and what difference we have made in the lives of others.”

Action in Autism does not currently receive any funding from government. If you would like to support the organization through cash, kind or through partnership, we would be most thankful. For more information about Action in Autism and the support to parents and families provided by the organisation, please call 031 207 4858 or email info@actioninautism.org.za.

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Further information:

Kirsten Miller

ACTION IN AUTISM

031 563 3039/084 207 8167

info@actioninautism.org.za

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Durban movie - Deep End – opens in cinemas across the country March 15

MEDIA RELEASE

Deep End – opens in cinemas across the country March 15

Deep End, a film by award-winning Durban-based director Eubulus Timothy and produced by Arclight Productions, which premiered last year at the Durban International Film Festival, opens in cinemas across the country on 15 March.

This coming of age romantic drama features an impressive lineup of South African talent which includes Carishma Basday (31 Million Reasons, Material) in the lead as Sunitha, Greg Kriek as Cory (Born to Win (Netflix) ‘n Man Soos My Pa, Last Ones Out, Tula Tula and The Recce) Suraya Rose-Santos as Nina (Free State, Last Broken Darkness) with a guest appearance of South African surfing legend Spider Murphy as himself.

Set on the intoxicating shorelines of Durban’s “Golden Mile” beaches, Deep End brings one of the world’s most popular surfing sites to glorious life.  The film is inspired by Eubulus Timothy's childhood in apartheid Durban. He had spent years developing the story and finally brings it to the screen with the support of the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission, the Department of Trade and Industry, and an extraordinary cast and crew.

Starring Carishma Basday, as the young woman, best known for her role in the film Material, and Greg Kriek, a experienced actor with more than 40 roles to his name, Deep End is the story of a young woman who overcomes family pressure and societal racism to pursue her passion that is not culturally acceptable. She is helped along by an unlikely champion surfer (Kriek) who is trying to escape his drug addiction and his own family demons. Being the apple of her father’s eye, the conflict almost destroys the very foundation of their once strong bond, unmasking pain of his forgotten past.

“I was born in Durban and am of Indian origin. My great grandfather came to South Africa as indenture labourer to work on sugar cane farms,” explains Director Eubulus Timothy, who is known for the feature film Othello as well as television shows such as Bridging The Gap and Cape Night Live. “The Indians of Durban had no real contact with India for decades, because of apartheid and so we have created a culture that is very unique. Our lives were a dichotomy of old east and an evolving west. Deep End is based on my experiences and that of my friends.  It’s a story of family tension, love, passion and friendship set around one young woman’s interest in the thrill of surfing.”

“We are really thrilled that the film is being released in South Africa by Videovision Entertainment in 26 cinemas around the country on March 15,” says producer Jacintha de Nobrega of Arclight Productions. “This is a local story, which has universal appeal, it’s a warm romantic story, and one that cuts across the generations.”

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Facebook – @deependmovie

Instagram - deependmovie2018

Twitter - @deependmovie

#DeepEnd

African Insight Launches New Operation on Pongola Game Reserve, KZN, South Africa

African Insight Launches New Operation on Pongola Game Reserve, KZN, South Africa

African Insight, one of the continent’s leading  providers of inspirational, educational and empowering conservation programmes has announced that it has extended its site offerings for groups to the White Elephant Lodge on Pongola Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

African Insight has been providing academic field trips and youth development programmes to universities, colleges and schools for over 20 years.  Destinations include Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon, KZN Drakensberg Mountains and Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park.

“In 2013 we were contracted to train 16 community members in hospitality and through this process were able to further develop our  unique brand of academic tourism on the community-owned Somkhanda Game Reserve in the Zululand region in KwaZulu-Natal,” explains Andrew Anderson, MD of Africa Insight.  

Anderson explains that “this led to the establishment of the African Insight Academy on Somkhanda with the vision to Inspire, Educate and Empower future global environmental custodians locally and abroad.  The facilities developed on Somkhanda include two safari style tented student camps that can accommodate 20 and 30 students respectively and a rustic “sleep out” camp.”

At the end of October 2018, the contract expired, and the hospitality side of the operation was handed back to Somkhanda’s management company.  African Insight Academy continues to operate on Somkhanda as a venue for its highly successful academic and youth development programmes whilst looking for new venues to accommodate the growing demand.

“The market for additional capacity to accommodate groups led us to talks with the owners of Pongola Game Reserve’s White Elephant operation, who loved the idea and they have now established  a new 30 bed facility for groups which was launched in January 2019,” says Anderson.

“Our African Insight Academy on Somkhanda and now on Pongola provides practical field experience in wildlife behaviour and management exposing students to a variety of research, monitoring and conservation programmes and community engagement.”

“Conservation and wildlife tourism that does not embrace the surrounding local community is unsustainable,” continues Anderson. “It is because of this that we have been actively involved in building sustainable socio-economic bridges between Somkhanda and the community resulting in the established of several programmes, such as cattle dipping, early childhood development and authentic homestays.  These programmes provide real support to the community whilst offering students an educational insight into contemporary traditional cultural and social-political issues. These same principles will be applied in the development of the site at Pongola.”

“We have had a phenomenal response over the years to these programmes, which has led to the need for more sites,” says Anderson. “And of course, there is nothing quite like an authentic African bush experience to capture the hearts and minds of our future conservationists, scientists and the like.”

The University of Roehampton in the UK has had a decade long partnership with African Insight Academy: with the two institutions working together to deliver the module Conservation. People, and Wildlife: South Africa Field Course to final year undergraduate students of anthropology, biology and zoology.  Prof Garry Marvin, Professor of Anthropology at the University, has seen the positive impact these trips have had on them and the university, saying “the close engagement that our students, through the field trips, have with the complex issues of conservation in situ, offers a rich educational experience beyond that which they would have from only reading the academic literature on conservation.”

Dr Heinz Kohrs, owner of White Elephant Lodge is excited to partner with the African Insight Academy on Pongola Game Reserve and looks forward to “being part of this important initiative that is having a positive impact on the next generation of global citizens and environmental custodians”.

For more information about the bespoke educational, development and academic programmes created by African Insight Academy , contact andrew@africanInsight.co.za or go to www.africaninsight.co.za

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Media enquiries:

Andrew Anderson

MD African Insight Academy

Email:  andrew@africanInsight.co.za

Mobile:

Facebook:                                          https://www.facebook.com/africaninsightacademy/

                                                            https://www.facebook.com/AfricanInsight/

Action in Autism’s Year End Social

Media Release

Action in Autism’s Year End Social 

Action in Autism invites all who are interested to celebrate the end of a successful year at their annual Year End Social on Saturday 1 December from 10am to 2pm at the Centre’s grounds at 105 Haig Road, Parkhill, Durban North. Autistic people, their families and supporters are welcome to join in, relax and enjoy a day of fun and games, a jumping castle, bubble machine, face painting and goodie bags for the little ones. The event costs R50 per family, and those who cannot afford it are sponsored by the organisation.

Action in Autism, in operation since 2005, provides free support, advice, research and information to autistic people and their families. The Centre, situated on land donated by the Department of Public Works (KZN), houses its flagship project, an early intervention and therapy programme for autistic children aged between 2 and 6 years. A free monthly diagnostic clinic is offered to families with no access to medical aid, and Action in Autism runs bi-annual training workshops, hosted by a team of professionals, that aim to share information and transfer skills and techniques for communication to parents and professionals.

Action in Autism does not discriminate against any child for reasons of socio-economic status or other criteria relating to financial status or residency location, and the organisation is therefore able to assist and make a meaning full impact in the lives of children from dire living conditions and disadvantaged backgrounds who would not otherwise have access to any services or interventions. Currently, funding is sought for eleven children whose families are unable to afford the school fees. Action in Autism is committed to providing a highly effective intervention service for these children, and to supporting and empowering the families over the long-term in order to make a significant impact on the well-being of the family and caregivers of each child over a sustained period of time.

The organisation’s next planned project is the development of a skills transference workspace and small and micro enterprise businesses that skill and sustain people with neurobiological conditions and autism.  According the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research, there are approximately four million people in South Africa with disabilities, and six hundred and fifty million world-wide – around 10% of the world’s population. Although both legislation and the National Skills Development Strategy promote the employment of disabilities in South Africa, there is still much work to be done.

Action in Autism does not receive any funding from government, and welcomes support through cash or kind, or through volunteering.  If you would like to attend the Year-end Social, to make a donation or support a child, or for more information about the services offered by the organisation, please call 031 563 3039, email info@actioninautism.org.za, or visit the website at www.actioninautism.org.za.

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Flatfoot Dance Company presents “N’gila” (I am here) - an integrated dance performance with dancers with Down Syndrome.

Media Release

Flatfoot Dance Company presents “N’gila” (I am here) - an integrated dance performance with dancers with Down Syndrome.

Flatfoot Dance Company is proud to present its second annual integrated dance programme working with dancers with Down Syndrome. “N’gila/I am here” is choreography by Lliane Loots in collaboration with the eight dancers from Flatfoot Dance Company and the fondly referred to Flatfoot Downie Dance Company at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on Tuesday 20 November at 6.30pm.

This landmark once-off performance will feature the unique partnering of the professional Flatfoot dancers with their Downie Dance Company members. This unique dance programme is unprecedented in South Africa and is a celebration of the power of dance to shift lives and to negotiate difference and inclusivity. Flatfoot celebrates its 15th anniversary this year and has - as one of its core values - the practice of dance (in education and in performance) as a tool towards what it calls “living democracy”. This dance programme celebrates community across the divides of race, gender and disability.

The programme began in August 2017 with the visit of Dutch choreographer Adriaan Luteijn of Introdans and his collaboration with Flatfoot. The company has continued this work over 2018 and this performance is the culmination of this year-long programme.

 “N’gila/I am here” will not only move and delight audiences but will challenge the very core foundations of who we think can and should dance professionally. Four Flatfoot dancers (Sifiso Khumalo, Qhawe Ndimande, Jabu Siphika and Zinhle Nzama) partner up with their counterparts, Karl Hebbelman, Charles Phillips, Kevin Govender and Michaela Munro in a dance explosion that is an affirmation of faith, courage and the joy of dance.

Flatfoot’s award-winning choreographer, Lliane Loots says, “Creating this work has been a journey into discovering community and into discovering what it means to engage a firm and loving assertion of self and identity. All nine of us in the rehearsal room have been forced to look inward and to see that space between who we think we are and who we want to be, and I have been humbled every day by what these eight dancers bring to making dance.' 

As a special offering the five Flatfoot Junior Company members will also perform “Sesfikile!” as the curtain-raiser at this performance. This work won critical acclaim at the 2018 JOMBA! Fringe.

This looks to be one of the highlights on Durban’s dance calendar and this one-off performances is being offed as a fundraiser to help support the Flatfoot Down Syndrome Dance programme for 2019. Tickets are limited and are R80 each. To pre-book tickets contact: flatfootdancecompany@gmail.com. Pre-booked tickets can be collected at the Sneddon box office from 1 hr before the start of show on Tuesday, 20 November. Patrons should note that there are no card facilities are available at the venue.

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 Captions to all photos by Val Adamson:

Four FLATFOOT dancers (Sifiso Khumalo, Qhawe Ndimande, Jabu Siphika and Zinhle Nzama) partner up with their counterparts, Karl Hebbelman, Charles Phillips, Kevin Govender and Michaela Munro in a dance explosion that is an affirmation of faith, courage and the joy of dance. Pictured here are the dancers in their performance of ‘cardiac output” at last year’s JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience.