JOURNEYS IN DANCE

Under the title Journeys in Dance the Playhouse Company's education and development department isonce again co-ordinating a dance programme for the disabled in conjunction with KZN Very SpecialArts.

These programmes are the most moving and heartwarming experiences - don't miss them!

Teachers of the disabled have been involved in skills workshops and dance courses in creativedevelopmental move-ment hosted by the Playhouse Company whose education and development danceco-ordinator Gerard Samuel has been working with 90 pupils from nine schools in the greater Durbanarea. They will present their shared dance works in the Playhouse Drama on July 29 at 11h00 and July30 at 11h00 and 19h00.

ART

An art exhibition in the Playhouse Drama foyer over the run of Journeys in Dance features the work ofpupils who have been assisted by students of Edgewood Teachers' Training College and volun-teers fromthe Durban Art Gallery.

Booking for Journeys in Dance through Sam Moodley on 262-9095.

INDIAN DANCE DRAMA

For those who love the visual impact of Indian dance, an Indian dance drama will be presented in thePlayhouse Opera on July 18. Booking through Computicket.

IMBIZO

Artistic director of AmaZulu Traditional Dance Assembly, Bheki Mbili, has had his group hard at workon his latest project (see p.1) which promises to be an interesting and challenging production.

This showcase of traditional Zulu dance from KZN interspersed with poetry and song takes place in thePlayhouse Drama on July 11 at 15h00 and 19h30.

Imbizo brings together traditional dance forms such as ishiyameni, umkhomazi, zingile, isibhaca,umzansi and amahubo, as well as maskanda and isicathamiya, in a dramatic historical narration aboutthe Zulu kingdom.

"These sorts of performances usually take place outdoors," says Bheki, "and many Zulu people don'tknow the names of these dances.

"The programme aims to strengthen cultural upliftment and development for the Zulu nation and theprovince of KZN, as well as to provide a window for the rest of South Africa."

SASAD FESTIVAL

The South African Society for the Advancement of Dancing's annual festival is running at the WestvilleCivic Centre until July 10.

The festival is split into two sections. The first - ballet, national and Spanish - finishes on July 2 whilethe second section of tap, modern/contemporary jazz and acrobatic runs from July 3 to 10. Three dailysessions take place at 09h00, 14h00 and 19h00. Tickets R5 per session (R3 scholars and pensioners) atthe door.

ITALIAN CLUB DANCE

Every month, there are social dance evenings at the Italian Club, 82 Fairway, Durban North. The nextmeeting will be on July 17 from 19h30 to 24h00 and the evening's speciality will be Country Western& Line Dancing. There is safe parking and the venue is licensed.

To book phone 207-2424 or 84-2567.

DANCE MONTH

October has been declared Annual Dance Month for KZN. Co-ordinated by the fast-growing networkorganisation KZN Dance Link, Dance Month '98 will see a proliferation of dance performances,workshops, classes and activities. This massive project seeks to raise awareness of dance by broadeningpublic perception of what dance means and how it can be appreciated.

Events planned include Reachout, a per-formance co-ordinated by the Playhouse Company, as well asthe annual FNB Vita Dance Shongololo which will feature the British dance company RJC in additionto many local groups.

KZN Dance Link will bring the events together for publicity purposes, and will arrange interviews,photographs, filming or articles.

KZN Dance Link invites all groups, studios, academies, choreographers, school principals, andcommunity leaders to become actively involved in this project by planning to stage a performance in ahall, theatre or even on the street. Or else arrange a series of open dance classes, lectures or work-shops.We urge the community to be inventive and groups are encouraged to work with each other.

Contact KZN Dance Link through Linda Peyters on 21-2779 or fax c/o Playhouse Dance on 306-2166.

STATE CHOREOGRAPHY

The State Theatre Pretoria invites applications from choreographers around the country to create newworks on the dancers of the State Theatre Dance Company and the State Theatre Ballet.

Rehearsals are expected to take place in Pretoria during October and November. Thereafter, the workswill be presented in performance before a national panel of judges on December 2.

The closing date for applications is July 27. For details and application forms, write to NCC, StateTheatre, PO Box 566, Pretoria, 0001.

Or ring (012) 322-1665 or fax (012) 322-3913.

UNCLENCHED FIST

To commemorate National Women's Day, the Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre presents Unclenching theFist, an exciting and challenging dance theatre work about violence against women. This will run in thePlayhouse Studio from August 4 to 9.

DANCE CLASSES

Whether you are a complete beginner, or a seasoned professional, the Playhouse Company offers a widerange of dance classes for all age-groups in its Steps Into Dance programme.

Taught by former members of the ex-Playhouse Dance Company and Siwela Sonke dancers, Steps IntoDance, is a good way to get into shape, hone your skills, learn something new and make new friends.

There are adult evening classes in beginners' classical ballet and contem-porary as well asintermediate/advanced African contemporary and advanced contemporary jazz.

Weekend classes for the young include intermediate and advanced contemporary dance (ages 13 to 25).These include Afro-contemporary and contact impro-visation techniques - and beginners' ballet (ages9 to 12).

For professional dancers there are open professional ballet classes on Tuesday and Saturday mornings.

Fees are from R5 upwards, depending on the class. For details or to book for classes, call Gerard Samuelon 369-9436 or Playhouse Dance on 369-9433.

SOCIAL DANCES

Eddie Yeadon plays some of the best ballroom, Latin or jive music for regular social evenings ofballroom and Latin American dancing. This month's get-together takes place on July 25 at the DurbanCollege of Education from 20h00. Entrance is R10. The venue is unlicensed, so take your own refresh-ments. Enquiries 207-2424.

LINE DANCING

Try your hand - or feet, rather - at the latest craze of Line Dancing every Wednesday from 19h15 to20h45 at the Berea Primary School, Bellevue Road. Details from Caryl Cusens on 29-8980.

BANNED

Running in the Wild Coast Sun's Wild Orchid Showbar is Banned, Julie de Jager's first solo effort asdeviser, producer and choreographer of a cabaret show. It's very much an up-tempo show with little timefor reflective moods.

As always, singer Shelley McLean is a bouncy, attractive delight to watch and Riccardo Guarrera hasan engaging and commanding stage presence.

Stealing the show, though, is former Playhouse Dance Company member, Debbie de la Harpe with herfluid and controlled movements. Nice to see Tracy Visser back at the Wild Orchid. Other dancers areCandice Crowther, Tandy Rudling, Paula Perez, Donavan Philander and Robin McBroom.

Some of the costumes are stunning and rate a fashion parade in themselves with lighting and sound well-designed.

TEA DANCES

The next Tea Dance event hosted by Judy Victor and Bobby Minter takes place at the MorningsideSports Club on July 31. Entrance fee R10 pp. Phone Bobby on 303-1642 or Judy on 84-8893.

BALLROOM CLUB

Every Sunday, Durban Arts present the Sunday Ballroom Club at 15h30 in the Playhouse Studio. Moredetails from Patrick `Bigboy' Zungu on 23-1236.