Jazzart Dance Theatre is honouring its 50th anniversary with a fabulous expression of love, life, and the art of dance at Artscape Theatre from 5 to 14 October 2023. The company is one of South Africa’s foremost contemporary dance collective in South Africa and has spearheaded the careers of many of the country’s top talent.
The event is a must-see for dance enthusiasts, art and theatre lovers and anyone looking for a moving experience that can suspend reality and transport them to a world of exceptional creativity transcending time and space.
Ring in 50 years of triumph with Jazzart
The ’50 Years of Dance Celebratory Festival’ is an exciting, stimulating and thoroughly celebratory programme, elevating and honouring the life-changing impact and longevity of contemporary dance in South Africa. The festival will showcase an exciting host of national and international guest companies and artists, featuring Jazzart’s young, energetic and ambitious students and professional company of dancers, along with specially invited guests from around the country.
The biggest names in contemporary dance
During the first week of the festival, a lineup of the biggest names in contemporary dance is confirmed for the programme. Jazzart’s celebrated alumni Sifiso Kweyama, Celeste Botha, Elvis Sibeko and Shaun Oelf showcase works alongside multiple award-winning artists Vincent Mantsoe and the eminent Gregory Maqoma. They are joined by South African dance legend Sylvia Glasser and Moving into Dance which shares a historic legacy with Jazzart, being one of South Africa’s longest-standing contemporary dance companies.
The programme includes short, fresh works created by company graduates and an exciting offering from the unique partnership between Jazzart and Unmute Dance Theatre. Keep an eye out for a beautiful production by Andile Vellem and Yaseen Manuel on Thursday, 5 October 2023.
A new work with fresh and familiar sounds
Capetonians can look forward to a brand-new creative collaboration that sees Jazzart join forces with Cape Town Opera, Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and the Phoenix Dance Theatre for a new, critically acclaimed show titled, Requiem: Journeys of the Soul. This dance event in Cape Town runs during the second week of the festival and is choreographed and directed by Jazzart’s Artistic Director, Dane Hurst. with music by Mozart and Neo Muyanga.
The production premiered in June this year at the Leeds Grand Theatre in the UK. The new works were commissioned by Opera North (UK) in partnership collaboration with Phoenix Dance Theatre and garnered critical acclaim, Critics lauded the show as a ‘5-star knock-out double bill’. Requiem: Journeys of the Soul promises to be a thought-provoking and poignant expression of remembrance and rebirth in a post-pandemic society.
For the sound, Mozart’s iconic masterpiece ‘Requiem’ is performed alongside a companion piece by Neo Muyanga titled ‘After Tears’. Muyanga’s craft has been described as an ‘invocation of South African rituals of mourning and remembrance – ultimately celebrating the beauty of life – colourful, joyous, uplifting: food for the soul.’
Jazzart Dance Theatre’s 50th Celebratory Festival of Dance is a true celebration of contemporary dance, demonstrating just how and why this company is a household favourite on home soil and continues to make a strong name for itself on the international stage.
The Full Festival Schedule
Opening Night
The 50 Years of Dance Celebratory Festival opening night gala is an exciting programme of works that drives contemporary dance forward. This dance event in Cape Town showcases an exciting host of guest companies and artists as well as Jazzart?s young, energetic, and ambitious students and professional company of dancers. There’s also a special guest performance by music sensation Zimbini Makwetu.
INJONGO by Dane Hurst featuring Zimbini Makwetu
I AM AFRICAN by Sifiso Kweyama
LISTEN TO MY HANDS by Andile Vellem and Yaseen Manual
HATA by Elvis Sibeko featuring Zimbini Makwetu
LIMITLESS SELF by Shaun Oelf
COLOURS OF AFRICA by Gregory Maqoma (Finale)
Cost: R100pp to R150pp, book via Computicket
When: Thursday, 5 October at 7pm
Where: Artscape Theatre, D.F. Malan St, Foreshore, Cape Town
South African greats for selected shows
For this capsule series of shows, leading talent in the local contemporary dance scene such as Sylvia Glasser, Gregory Maqoma and Vincent Mantose present bold works for a limited run.
LISTEN TO MY HANDS (Extract) by Andile Vellem and Yaseen Manual
LIMITLESS SELF by Shaun Oelf
MEMORY by Vincent Mantose
BAOBAB by Sylvia Glasser
I AM AFRICAN by Sifiso Kweyama
COLOURS OF AFRICA by Gregory Maqoma (Finale)
Cost: R100pp to R150pp, book via Computicket
When: Friday, 6 October at 7pm. Saturday, 7 October at 2:30pm and 7pm
Where: Artscape Theatre, D.F. Malan St, Foreshore, Cape Town
Requiem: Journeys of the Soul by Jazzart’s Artistic director, Dane Hurst
Jazzart Dance Theatre in collaboration with Cape Town Opera, the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and Phoenix Dance Theatre is staging a Requiem: Journeys of the Soul. this new production is choreographed and directed by Dane Hurst with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Neo Muyanga.
Neo Muyanga’s new work entitled ‘After Tears’ was described as an ‘invocation of South African rituals of mourning and remembrance – ultimately celebrating the beauty of life – colourful, joyous, uplifting: food for the soul.’
‘My new work After Tears laments the palpable sense of loss after the dream of a utopia has been deferred. The piece is a rallying call for individual citizens to work collectively, with empathy, to rebuild after a period of distress and loss. It envisages this collective work as a vibrant ‘After Tears party’ where the blues of mourning are submerged and constrained by the reverie of a cleansing ceremony,’ explains Muyanga.
Requiem by Dane Hurst
After Tears by Dane Hurst
Cost: R100pp to R150pp, book via Computicket
When: Thursday, 12 October & Friday, 13 October at 7pm. Saturday, 14 October at 2:30pm and 7pm
Where: Artscape Theatre, D.F. Malan St, Foreshore, Cape Town
Website: jazzart.co.za
Email: dance@jazzart.co.za
Tel: 021 410 9848
Instagram: @jazzartdancetheatre
Facebook: @JazzartDanceTheatre