DANCE

OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF SIWELA SONKE

The Playhouse Company's Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre sees the culmination of its period of consolidation and training with its official launch on April 19 with a programme which runs until May 4 in the Playhouse Sanlam Loft.

The company, made up of nine full-time dancers and a drummer, will perform a series of new works for the occasion, in this, its first full season.Artistic director Jay Pather is committed to the creation of entertaining and thought-provoking dance theatre that retells the stories of everyday lives. Siwela Sonke works with a direct, street-wise contemporary form of dance which is accessible, formed from a dance theatre language that draws from a rich variety of indigenous and contemporary South African dance styles.

DANCE FORUM

KZN Dance Link, a new dance forum, was established at a meeting of suppor-ters held at the Playhouse in January.

The aim of KZN Dance Link is to pro-mote dance as an expression of commu-nity and cultural values. It also intends to be a `voice' for dance, articulating the dance community's needs and interests.

The intention is to establish a member-ship organisation drawn from the widest possible cross-section of dance practi-tioners, groups, teachers and organi-sations in KZN.

Although exploratory work is underway with the registration of the organisation's constitution and with volunteer working groups scheduling 'sharing' meetings, nothing will be finalised for some time.

Anyone interested in joining KZN Dance Link is invited to attend the next meeting on March 1 at 14h00 at the Playhouse. Details from Leigh Gunkel on 369-9457.

Dance contd. 7

NEW BALLET

In its repertoire, the Playhouse Dance Company has two ballets by inter-nationally-renowned choreographer and recipient of many ballet awards, Jean-Paul Comelin.

Les Nuits d'EtŠ

formed part of the Midsummer Night's Dream season in 1995, and Firebird was performed in the 1996 Ballet Classics season.

Jean-Paul Comelin has so enjoyed wor-king with the company in the past and, being aware of the need to extend its repertoire, has donated a new work to the company.

Daughters of Mourning

, based on Frederico Garcia Lorca's play, The House of Bernada Alba was recently per-formed in rehearsal. A powerful and moving piece, it strongly illustrates the original play which tells of five Spanish sisters stifled within the strict traditions of a 19th century matriarchy.

Daughters of Mourning

was originally commissioned by the City of San Diego, California, in 1969. It is scheduled to be danced in Durban during June.

TEA DANCES

Judy Victor and Bobby Minter's regular social ballroom dance evening, Tea Dances, take place on the first Thursday of every month (March 6).

The venue is the Umbilo Sports Club on the corner of Penzance and Umbilo Roads. The entrance fee is R10 pp.

For further details phone Bobby on 303-1642 or Judy on 84-8893.

ART ALFRESCO

Art Alfresco will be held at the Old Pavilion site on the Snell Parade on March 9 and 23. Proceeds go to the National Cancer Association.

Phone John Whiting on 86-5615.