NEWS

DANCE UMBRELLA 1997

The highly popular annual Johannesburg festival of contemporary choreography and dance, the FNB Vita Dance Umbrella, is being held for the ninth time in the Wits Theatre, Braamfontein, until March 15.

The Umbrella provides a free and open platform for all choreographers, both established and new, to stage original contemporary danceworks. This year the festival presents over 170 new works in Fringe and Main performances as well as on two Stepping Stones Days.

BOYZIE

The first programme sees Boyzie Cekwana's completed work, .. like posing pictures with a smile, commis-sioned by the Foundation for the Crea-tive Arts and choreographed in various stages. The first part was created and performed in Cape Town using Cape Town-based dancer Vincent Hantam and the second was developed and perfor-med in Durban with Playhouse Dance Company members and local actors.

In the March 11 and 13 programme former Playhouse Dance Company member Monique Fourie presents Piano Pieces. Eating, Drinking and Sleeping comes from PDC's artistic director Mark Hawkins.

All programmes start at 19h30 at the Wits Theatre. Tickets are R16 at Compu-ticket. Special concessions are available. For details telephone (011) 442-8435.

AWARDS

The winners of the 1996 FNB Vita Awards for contemporary choreography and dance, as well as the recipients of the young choreographers grants made by FNB Vita, will be announced on March 15 at the end of the Dance Umbrella.

Among the nominees are Durban dancers Ebrahim Medell and Mary Ann de Wet for most outstanding dancer in male and female categories respectively. STEPPING STONES

The two Stepping Stones days run on March 2 and March 9 at the Wits Theatre from 10h00. Entrance is free and all are welcome to attend.

AFRIKA JAM

This month Africa Jam hosts the band Khaya every Wednesday while top folk guitarist Madala Kunene performs on March 1, 7 and 8. On Sundays you can enjoy avant-garde jazz with Tony's Spectrum.

Afrika Jam is at 237 Marine Parade at the phone number is 32-3923.

Lipstick Traces

sees a group of four young singers in rehearsal. The first half takes us through their moods and feelings, with the occasional bust-up with boyfriends. The second part sees the girls, now glamorous and made up in glitzy costumes, performing their show.

There are good performances all round but top honours go to Janine van Pletzen whose acting ability shines throughout.

Lipstick Traces

is the latest show created and directed by DeWet Wraight and Peter Court, the team responsible for the record-breaking Sinderella that enjoyed a 16-week run at the Playhouse Cellar. Lipstick Traces doesn't match Sinderella. At least, not yet. But then Sinderella was rewritten three times in the first couple of weeks!

Book at Computicket or The Supper Stage on 84-9866.

(Please support this production as there is a possibility that The Supper Stage may have to close in the near future)

CALLIGRAPHY GUILD

Durban has a calligraphy guild that meets regularly - this month's get-together will be on March 12. For more details contact Ingrid Lotter on 84-6328 or write to PO Box 201708, Durban North, 4016.

BRAMWELL II

From March 31 at 21h00, M-Net presents the start of Bramwell II, the second season of this popular British drama series.

Created by award-winning writer Lucy Gannon, who also wrote the top-rating television drama Peak Practice, Bramwell II takes place 100 years ago.

The series follows the fortunes of Eleanor Bramwell (Jemma Redgrave) who sets her heart on becoming a leading surgeon, an ambition unheard of for the women in Victorian England.

Bramwell II

is based on fact and produced with attention to detail. Eleanor Bramwell is modelled on real doctors and the stories are drawn from documen-ted cases in the 1880s. The result is described as a series in the finest tradition of period drama.

PARK EXHIBITS

On display in the NSA's Park Gallery this month will be a selection of artists' books and sculptors by New York- based Robbin Silverberg and Andras Borocz.

Peter Freeman will also show a collection of photographs from March 16 to April 3.