30 dancers. 3 dance companies. 1 stage. Impact No. 1 will be staged at the Joburg Theatre from 18 to 21 August 2016 for four performances only.
For the first time ever, the Joburg Theatre’s Mandela stage will showcase a collaboration between three dance companies from opposite corners of the country – the Cape Dance Company (CDC), Moving Into Dance Mophatong (MIDM) and Tshwane Dance Theatre (TDT). This event is part of a project made possible by a grant of R420 000 from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC).
These superb companies will present three challenging works, all showing dancers and movement at their most intense.
Moving Into Dance Mophatong (MIDM) will present Alfred Hinkel’s timeless Bolero. This new revised version created in 2015 by Alfred Hinkel for MIDM is the much loved signature piece from the Jazzart repertoire and has been performed countless times over the years (and on the very same stage – The Mandela in the Joburg Theatre). Created by Alfred Hinkel in Namaqualand in 1976, it focused on the Immorality Act, and was danced to a blend of local rhythms and the magnificent score by Ravel.
Earlier this year, at Artscape during the Cape Dance Company’s 21st anniversary season, CDC presented the African première of A Thousand Shepherds, by José Agudo, an acclaimed Spanish/United Kingdom choreographer. It is regarded by many as one of the most ground-breaking contemporary works presented in South Africa in the past decade.
The CDC is one of South Africa’s leading dance companies. Led by Founding Artistic Director Debbie Turner and supported by an ensemble of dancers who never fail to captivate through their pure athleticism, humanity, physical expression, and breath-taking virtuosity. CDC has just seen another sold out run on the Main program of the National Arts Festival and a record breaking 15 standing ovations for A Thousand Shepherds. CDC presents approximately 40 performances per year across South Africa and has toured internationally to Europe, the United States of America, and Asia.
The lighting design for all three works is by the acclaimed designer, Wilhelm Disbergen.
TDT was formed in 2002 under the tutelage of Mandla Mcunu and Vicki Karras, to provide a professional home for young dancers graduating from the various dance academies. It gave a voice to choreographers such as Sifiso Kweyama, Gregory Vuyani Mqoma, and PJ Sabbagha. In recent seasons it presented major new works by Redha Benteifour (Redhas’s Giselle and CrashDance), and Sbonakaliso Ndaba (Pula), along with new works by Mari-Louise Basson, Celeste Botha, Liyabuya Gongo, Timothy le Roux, Thabo Rapoo, and Kristin Wilson.
This is the first TDT season since the departure of artistic director Esther Nasser, who assumed the position of CEO of Joburg Ballet. TDT is currently under the artistic direction of Laura Cameron and Liyabuya Gongo. A standout feature of their two Impact seasons at the Joburg Theatre in August is their emphasis on collaboration with other major companies – the Cape Dance Company and MIDM in Impact No.1 (18–21 August), and again with MIDM in Impact No. 2 (24–26 August).
Impact No. 1 will be staged at the Joburg Theatre from 18 to 21 August 2016 for four performances only. Bookings are open.
Impact No. 2 will be staged in the Fringe at the Joburg Theatre from 24 to 26 August 2016 for four performances only and is in collaboration with MIDM. The season will feature six new works, five of these by emerging female choreographers.
Tshwane Dance Theatre, the Cape Dance Company and Moving Into Dance Mophatong are all funded by the National Lotteries Commission.
