Jazzart Dance Theatre's Golden Jubilee: A Grand Festival of Dance at Artscape Theatre
The renowned Jazzart Dance Theatre of Cape Town is gearing up to celebrate its remarkable 50year journey with an outstanding Festival of Dance at the Artscape Theatre, scheduled from 5th to 14th October. This extraordinary event is highly anticipated by dance aficionados as it provides a mesmerizing insight into the captivating world of contemporary dance.
A Historic Milestone in Dance
The renowned Jazzart Dance Theatre of Cape Town is gearing up to celebrate its remarkable 50-year journey with an outstanding Festival of Dance at the Artscape Theatre, scheduled from 5th to 14th October. This extraordinary event is highly anticipated by dance aficionados as it provides a mesmerizing insight into the captivating world of contemporary dance.
For five decades, Jazzart Dance Theatre has been an integral part of South Africa’s dance scene, nurturing and exhibiting some of the country’s most exceptional talents. The meticulously designed 50 Years of Dance Celebratory Festival is a tribute to the enduring legacy of contemporary dance in South Africa.
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The festival will feature a diverse array of national and international guest artists and companies, alongside the dynamic students and professional dancers of Jazzart. Additionally, special appearances by invited guests from all over South Africa will grace the event.
Showcasing Contemporary Dance Legends
The festival’s opening week will present a remarkable lineup of distinguished figures in contemporary dance, including illustrious Jazzart alumni Sifiso Kweyama, Celeste Botha, Elvis Sibeko, and Shaun Oelf. These revered artists will present their extraordinary works, alongside multiple award-winning artists Vincent Mantsoe and the eminent Gregory Maqoma.
Furthermore, the legendary Sylvia Glasser and Moving into Dance, one of the longest-standing contemporary dance companies in South Africa, will also participate in this esteemed event.
Cape Town residents can eagerly look forward to a creative collaboration between Jazzart, Cape Town Opera, Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, and Phoenix Dance Theatre. This partnership has resulted in the critically acclaimed production, ‘Requiem: Journeys of the Soul,’ which promises to be a festival highlight.
‘Requiem: Journeys of the Soul’: A Creative Collaboration
Under the choreographic guidance of Jazzart’s Artistic Director, Dane Hurst, and featuring music by Mozart and Neo Muyanga, ‘Requiem: Journeys of the Soul’ delves into themes of remembrance and renewal in a society emerging from the pandemic’s shadows.
The performance blends Mozart’s iconic Requiem with Neo Muyanga’s After Tears, characterized as an ‘invocation of South African rituals of mourning and remembrance.’ Muyanga’s piece celebrates life’s beauty with a spirited, exuberant, and uplifting essence.
The 50th Celebratory Festival of Dance transcends a mere event; it embodies a genuine celebration of contemporary dance and illustrates why Jazzart Dance Theatre maintains a special place in the hearts of South Africans. The company’s steadfast dedication to the dance art form has garnered well-earned international recognition.
Don’t miss this remarkable tribute to dance. Secure your tickets now and be a part of this significant occasion, poised to be a highlight of Cape Town’s cultural calendar.
For more information, visit the Artscape Theatre’s website.
Event Details:
Location: Artscape Theatre, D.F. Malan St, Foreshore
Dates: 12th to 14th October
Cost: R100 to R150
Tickets: Purchase tickets here
Emma Botha is a Cape Town-based journalist who chronicles the city’s shifting social-justice landscape for the Mail & Guardian, tracing stories from Parliament floor to Khayelitsha kitchen tables. Born and raised on the slopes of Devil’s Peak, she still hikes Lion’s Head before deadline days to remind herself why the mountain and the Mother City will always be her compass.
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