Aspiring dance groups from townships in the region will get a chance to put on their dancing shoes and strut their stuff for a select panel of judges who all have years of experience in the discipline.
“The latent talent of the youngsters in the townships often remains hidden due to circumstance and poverty. This dance festival gives those who would otherwise never be noticed an opportunity to shine in front of an audience and a very experienced panel of judges,” said Jerry Mabuza, operations and festival manager for GOMACC.
Three professional choreographers, Thabiso Setlhatlolo, Thabo Rapoo and Mathews Oupa Manamela, were appointed to shortlist and mentor the groups that will be performing.
The groups were selected using professional dance criteria. The groups that will take part in the festival will be performing all kinds of dance, from Xhosa, Tswana and Zulu traditional dancing to contemporary, modern, Afro-fusion, and even tap dancing.
The groups hail from across and around Gauteng Fochville, Hammanskral, Mabopane, Vosloorus, Tembisa Soweto, Katlehong, Mogale City and more will be represented.
“This is an amazing opportunity, not only for the dancers chosen to take part in this exciting event, but also for the communities to come and support their friends and family members who will be performing,” said Mabuza.
“The performances are going to be so varied, ranging over many cultures and styles. Even the sizes of the groups differ we have a group of five dancers and we have a group of 51.
So it’s going to be very interesting to see what they have come up with.”
The Gauteng Arts and Culture Council is funding the Dance Festival.
Each dancer who participates will receive a certificate of participation, and each group will also walk away with a certificate and a professional assessment of their performance.
The Dance Showcase will be taking place on 5 and 6 November 2011 at Uncle Toms Hall in Soweto from 09h00 to 17h00(Sunday and Saturday).
