On Thursday night 31st March 2011, the curtain at the University of Johannesburg Arts Centre will lift on the Tshwane Dance Theatre (TDT) to reveal the four newly choreographed works based on the 1979 quote by Andy Warhol: "In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes." The season will run until 9 April 2011 for 8 performances only.
Titled '15 Mins of Fame' - each choreographer was given only 15 minutes to show their mettle in shaping the movements of some of the most skilled and talented dancers in South Africa. The top South African choreographers invited to work with the company are: Timothy le Roux, Celeste Botha, Mari-Louise Basson and Thabo Rapoo. As with previous TDT seasons the productions will feature innovative and cutting-edge stage and lighting designs by Wilhelm Disbergen.
“All the Kings Horses”, choreographed by Timothy le Roux, deals with the issue of colonialism. Timothy asks: "Who is to blame?" and questions the political mentality of "Let them eat cake". In his exquisite and very stylish "White Mischief" decadence scene, the differences between the haves and extreme have-nots become all too apparent where the current rulers live in glass palaces. For this audacious piece, Le Roux will use the full company of twelve dancers. Audiovisuals of animal trophies against living room walls and Mozart's Requiem further darken this already stark interpretation.“Synonyms for Seth”, choreographed by the internationally acclaimed Mari-Louise Basson, follows in an adventurous vein by positioning the dancers atop a specially constructed security boom. “Synonyms for Seth” deals with barriers - both physical and mental – and the stupefying fear and inherent paralyses instilled by modern living. Mari-Louise has been very busy of late, jetting between commissions and commitments in France, and most recently, India. She is with TDT for three months before she leaves to pursue commissions in Denmark and Sweden.
On a lighter note, “Here and Now”, choreographed by Celeste Botha, interrogates the defining moments in one's life - a simple and on-the-spur-of-the-moment decision can unleash a series of unexpected events that can change the course of one's life. Celeste was been nominated for a Naledi award for her superb choreography for The Boys in the Photograph, which played at the Joburg Civic theatre in 2010. Celeste has worked with well-known dance and ballet companies in South Africa and abroad. She was a company member of Jazzart Dance Theatre and the Free Flight Dance Company, and has collaborated with overseas companies such as Le Nomades in Switzerland and the Magnet Theatre. She has also performed with the Copenhagen International Ballet in Denmark at the Bellevue Theatre.
The last work on this extraordinary bill is by Thabo Rapoo, the Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year in 2008. His “Silken Road” charts a journey along a path towards the eventual intersection/connection between two worlds. “Silken Road” turns on the term ‘Sangam', which literally means ‘two rivers meet'. Audiences can expect to see a unique synergy of contemporary, eastern, and African dance – and even ballet! Ritualistic music from Kodo and Avishai Cohen comprises the soundtrack.
Thabo's choreography has been seen in South Africa, Europe, and Indonesia, and he has often been commissioned by the Dance Umbrella to create new works. He is one of South Africa's leading choreographers and has lit up the dance stages with his exquisite choreography that is influenced by his internship in Surakarta, Indonesia, to learn and study Javanese classical dance. During this time he collaborated with Eko Supriyanti, one of the best Indonesian choreographers, and created a dance work which they performed at the Jakarta festival, Indonesia. For TDT, most recently he created "Exodus (ex orders)", for its E-Boyz seasons in Johannesburg and Pretoria, and co-choreographed "Peter and the Wolf" with Esther Nasser.
TDT is under the artistic directorship of Esther Nasser, an award winning choreographer and well-known in the dance world for building dance companies such as the State Theatre Dance Company and the Jozi Dance Company.
The TDT dancers are Mari-Louise Basson, Kristin Wilson, Ipeleng Merafe, Liyabuyo Gongo, Tertia Coetzee, Laura Cameron, Kyle Roussow, Andre Regazzoni, Johan Dippenaar, Gregory Magagula, Lance Booysen, and Zenzeli Letsoela.
Video highlights of TDT's previous seasons presenting Redha's Giselle, E-Boyz, and Peter and the Wolf can be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/wildis2
Critics unanimously praised the standard of these performances:
"... intricately organic choreographic crafting ... a movement vocabulary pulsating with an intrinsic physicality" (Adrienne Sichel, The Star).
"...technically astute and athletic ... fuelled by testorerone chor
eography demands stamina ... it is exciting to see a young company handle such a work" (Tammy Ballantine, Business Day).
"... redefines brilliance in dance. It will leave you sweating, on the verge of tears and on your seat's edge, clamouring for more" (Robyn Sassen, Sunday Times).
"Peter and the Wolf" was been nominated for a Naledi award for the Best Production of a Play or Musical for Children in 2010, the first time that a dance company has been nominated for a Naledi theatre award.
“15 Mins of Fame” will be staged at the University of Johannesburg Arts Centre from 31 March to 9 April 2011 for 8 performances only.
Bookings are already open on Computicket
http://www.computicket.com/web/event/15_mins_of_fame/309492999/0/23775689
Prices are R50 (for the preview on 31 March), and R80 or R120 for all other performances.
TDT is generously funded by the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund.
Inquiries:
Wilhelm Disbergen
On Thursday night 31st March 2011, the curtain at the University of Johannesburg Arts Centre will lift on the Tshwane Dance Theatre (TDT) to reveal the four newly choreographed works based on the 1979 quote by Andy Warhol: "In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes." The season will run until 9 April 2011 for 8 performances only.
Titled '15 Mins of Fame' - each choreographer was given only 15 minutes to show their mettle in shaping the movements of some of the most skilled and talented dancers in South Africa. The top South African choreographers invited to work with the company are: Timothy le Roux, Celeste Botha, Mari-Louise Basson and Thabo Rapoo. As with previous TDT seasons the productions will feature innovative and cutting-edge stage and lighting designs by Wilhelm Disbergen.
“All the Kings Horses”, choreographed by Timothy le Roux, deals with the issue of colonialism. Timothy asks: "Who is to blame?" and questions the political mentality of "Let them eat cake". In his exquisite and very stylish "White Mischief" decadence scene, the differences between the haves and extreme have-nots become all too apparent where the current rulers live in glass palaces. For this audacious piece, Le Roux will use the full company of twelve dancers. Audiovisuals of animal trophies against living room walls and Mozart's Requiem further darken this already stark interpretation.
“Synonyms for Seth”, choreographed by the internationally acclaimed Mari-Louise Basson, follows in an adventurous vein by positioning the dancers atop a specially constructed security boom. “Synonyms for Seth” deals with barriers - both physical and mental – and the stupefying fear and inherent paralyses instilled by modern living. Mari-Louise has been very busy of late, jetting between commissions and commitments in France, and most recently, India. She is with TDT for three months before she leaves to pursue commissions in Denmark and Sweden.
On a lighter note, “Here and Now”, choreographed by Celeste Botha, interrogates the defining moments in one's life - a simple and on-the-spur-of-the-moment decision can unleash a series of unexpected events that can change the course of one's life. Celeste was been nominated for a Naledi award for her superb choreography for The Boys in the Photograph, which played at the Joburg Civic theatre in 2010. Celeste has worked with well-known dance and ballet companies in South Africa and abroad. She was a company member of Jazzart Dance Theatre and the Free Flight Dance Company, and has collaborated with overseas companies such as Le Nomades in Switzerland and the Magnet Theatre. She has also performed with the Copenhagen International Ballet in Denmark at the Bellevue Theatre.
The last work on this extraordinary bill is by Thabo Rapoo, the Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year in 2008. His “Silken Road” charts a journey along a path towards the eventual intersection/connection between two worlds. “Silken Road” turns on the term ‘Sangam', which literally means ‘two rivers meet'. Audiences can expect to see a unique synergy of contemporary, eastern, and African dance – and even ballet! Ritualistic music from Kodo and Avishai Cohen comprises the soundtrack.
Thabo's choreography has been seen in South Africa, Europe, and Indonesia, and he has often been commissioned by the Dance Umbrella to create new works. He is one of South Africa's leading choreographers and has lit up the dance stages with his exquisite choreography that is influenced by his internship in Surakarta, Indonesia, to learn and study Javanese classical dance. During this time he collaborated with Eko Supriyanti, one of the best Indonesian choreographers, and created a dance work which they performed at the Jakarta festival, Indonesia. For TDT, most recently he created "Exodus (ex orders)", for its E-Boyz seasons in Johannesburg and Pretoria, and co-choreographed "Peter and the Wolf" with Esther Nasser.
TDT is under the artistic directorship of Esther Nasser, an award winning choreographer and well-known in the dance world for building dance companies such as the State Theatre Dance Company and the Jozi Dance Company.
The TDT dancers are Mari-Louise Basson, Kristin Wilson, Ipeleng Merafe, Liyabuyo Gongo, Tertia Coetzee, Laura Cameron, Kyle Roussow, Andre Regazzoni, Johan Dippenaar, Gregory Magagula, Lance Booysen, and Zenzeli Letsoela.
Video highlights of TDT's previous seasons presenting Redha's Giselle, E-Boyz, and Peter and the Wolf can be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/wildis2
Critics unanimously praised the standard of these performances:
"... intricately organic choreographic crafting ... a movement vocabulary pulsating with an intrinsic physicality" (Adrienne Sichel, The Star).
"...technically astute and athletic ... fuelled by testorerone choreography demands stamina ... it is exciting to see a young company handle such a work" (Tammy Ballantine, Business Day).
"... redefines brilliance in dance. It will leave you sweating, on the verge of tears and on your seat's edge, clamouring for more" (Robyn Sassen, Sunday Times).
"Peter and the Wolf" was been nominated for a Naledi award for the Best Production of a Play or Musical for Children in 2010, the first time that a dance company has been nominated for a Naledi theatre award.
“15 Mins of Fame” will be staged at the University of Johannesburg Arts Centre from 31 March to 9 April 2011 for 8 performances only.
Bookings are already open on Computicket
http://www.computicket.com/web/event/15_mins_of_fame/309492999/0/23775689
Prices are R50 (for the preview on 31 March), and R80 or R120 for all other performances.
TDT is generously funded by the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund.
Inquiries:
Wilhelm Disbergen
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