DANCE

DANCE WINNERS

Winning groups of the Tongaat tradi-tional dance competition last month were all Zulu dance project affiliates of Durban Arts.

Winning the first prize of R10 000 was Amatsheketshe from kwaXimba near Cato Ridge which is also Metro Mayor Cllr Obed Mlaba's home village. The group is led by 22 year-old Sifiso Zondi, who was given the task of leading the group by his father, the late Jivaza Zondi, who in turn took it over from his father, Mathinta Shozi who formed the group in 1959 before he died.

Winners of the second prize of R5 000 was a group from Thembalihle Hostel in KwaMashu led by Sobho Ntshangase.

Third prize of R2 500 went to Jabulani Zulu Dance from Indwedwe's Ngonweni area where there is an arts council funded by Durban Arts.

Jabulani is led by Thabo Bhengu, one of Durban Arts's strongest and most hard-working co-ordinators.

BALLROOM CLUB

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

DISABLED DANCE/ART

Veteran ballroom dance teacher for the disabled John Mthethwa proudly presents the achievements of scholars and adults from schools and centres for the disabled in Dance Across the Floor on November 6 at 19h00.

Held in the Playhouse Grand Foyer, the project is held in collaboration with the Playhouse Company's education and development department.

Following the ground-breaking Anyone Can Dance in 1996 and last year's Dance Across the Floor, this production promises another exciting showcase of the talents of 80 ballroom dance students aged between eight and 80 in a venue filled with lanterns and candlelight.

SUPPORTED

Supported by the National Arts Council (NAC), Dance Across the Floor '98 features students from the KwaThintwa School for the Deaf in the Midlands, Ethembeni School for the Physically Disabled in Inchanga, the Umlazi Centre for the Blind, and Ekukhanyeni School for the SMH in Pietermaritzburg. They will perform waltzes, rumbas and the up-tempo disco tango.

Tickets at R15. Phone S'thembiso on 304-2242 to book.

SHONGOLOLO AWARDS

Last month's FNB Vita Dance Shongo-lolo saw the presentation of the 1997/98 FNB Vita Durban Dance Awards.

Winners of the awards for most promi-sing male and female dancers in a con-temporary style were Mzokuthula Gasa (Unclenching the Fist) and Delene Robson (Final Instructions to the Waking). Awards for best female and male dancers went to Angela Lardant (Unclenching the Fist) and Itumeleng Magkope (Standing in Motion).

The award for best choreographer went to Jay Pather for (Unclenching the Fist and Shifting Spaces - Tilting Times).

JAZZART GOES SWISS

To celebrate the opening of its Cape Town office the Arts Council of Switzer-land, Pro Helvetia, has sponsored the visit of a contemporary Swiss dance company for a two week workshop with Cape Town's Jazzart Dance Theatre.

The resulting production, comprising six Swiss dancers of Les Nomades le Loft Vevey and seven Jazzart Dance members, will tour major centres. In Durban they will appear on November 19 at Techni-kon Natal's Courtyard Theatre at 20h30.

Tickets at the theatre. Phone 204-2532.

NATYA MALA

Lovers of Indian dance are in for a treat when the Indian Academy of South Africa, in association with Durban Arts, presents what promises to be a kaleido-scope of Indian dance including the classical, semi-classical and folk dances in all the major Indian languages.

Among the artistes taking part are Yashika Moodley (featured on the cover of last month's D'ARTS), Varsha Heera, Andhra Vidya Sabha and Surya Kala Niketan as well as Manoranjeni and Manoghri Chetty. Also appearing will be the Nateshwar and Kantharuby's Dance Academies.

The performance will take place on November 7 at 19h30 at the University of Durban-Westville's Hindu Centre.

Tickets from Atlas Printers, who print D'ARTS magazine, on 332-7628. Other booking outlets are Ram Maharaj on 309-1951 and 82-4232 or Mrs C Naidoo on 400-2725.

SOCIAL DANCE

Those who enjoy social ballroom dancing have various venues from which to choose. Dinner-and-dance evenings are held on the Durban Hilton's Rainbow Terrace every Saturday from 19h00.

There will be a Hallowe'en Dance at the Italian Club, 82 Fairway, Durban North on November 20 at 19h30 (dress out-rageously!) and Bobbie Minter and Judy Victor hold their monthly Tea Dance at the Morningside Sports Club at 19h00 on November 27.

DANCE SPORT

The RAMA National Dance Champion-ships will take place on December 5 at the Sports Centre, University of Durban Westville. Competitors' entries close on November 1. Audience booking opens at Computicket on November 2. There will be an international panel of judges.