| Moving Into Dance turns 30 |
|
|
|
| Written by Makoena Pabale | |
| Thursday, 17 July 2008 | |
|
It's the big three-oh for Moving Into Dance Mophatong, which has a special performance planned to mark its birthday. 
Another quality performance by the contemporary dance company, Moving into Dance Mophatong
AFTER three decades of entertaining us, Moving Into Dance Mophatong is still dancing and making the dreams of young dancers come true. In celebration of its 30th birthday, Sylvia Glasser, the company's founder and artistic director, and the poet, Lebo Mashile, have collaborated on a dance called Threads. It deals with gender relationships, culture and identity in South African society through poetry and dance. Threads will be the main performance of the celebration, which will include school performances. It is all happening from 23 to 26 October at the Wits Main Theatre, at the University of the Witwatersrand. Tickets prices and performance times have not been announced yet. According to Glasser, the organisation has grown from a part-time multiracial group of dancers into a contemporary African dance company. It was established in 1978; the same year, it had its first performance at the Box Theatre, another Wits venue. Glasser says rehearsals took place in the garage of her home in Victory Park, in northern Johannesburg. Then, in 1987, the company moved to the Braamfontein Recreation Centre, the only multiracial recreational centre open at the time. In 1992, it began a full-time community dance teachers training course and an edudance outreach programme; in 2005, the training became a learnership in performing arts. 
Moving into Dance Mophatong celebrates its 30th birthday this year
Students learn various genres of dance, as well as choreography, oral and verbal communication, computer skills and the anthropology of dance. The course has full accreditation as performing arts training. "The standard of our work is reflected in the number of FNB Dance Umbrella awards the choreographers and performers have got over the years. This year, we received eight nominations for the Gauteng MEC Contemporary Choreography and Dance Awards," Glasser says. The FNB Dance Umbrella, which marked its 20th year this year, is recognised as the definitive, annual festival of South African contemporary dance. It includes commissioned works from professionals, and works by international companies and youth and community groups. Moving Into Dance Mophatong has performed across South Africa and in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Botswana, as well as in Holland, Sweden, Germany, France, Portugal, Denmark, Malaysia and Canada. Glasser believes the company has brought about positive change, especially in black communities. "Under apartheid Moving Into Dance gave young black South Africans access to high quality training in a nurturing environment as preparation for careers in the dance and entertainment industry." The company continues its work, started during the apartheid years, in under-resourced and less privileged communities. Related stories: |
