DANCE

SWAMI THYAGARAJAM



One of the most popular cultural events on the Natal calendar is the Durban Arts-backed Swami Thyagaraja Music Festival produced on behalf of the Indian Academy of SA by Mr T P Naidoo, Durban Arts Board member.

This year's festival will take place on May 26 at 14h30 and for the first time is being staged at the Playhouse Opera.

"At last well-equipped venues are made available to people of all races," says TP. "This gives an opportunity to orga-nisations such as the Indian Academy to stage top class productions with the backing of proper lighting, technical and stage facilities. For many years we were confined to the Durban City Hall which has its limitations for theatre. This year's production will be truly worth waiting for."

ARTISTES

Some of the top artistes featured are talented youngster from Madras, Thodur Madabusi Krishna, who will be accom-panied by musicians from that city and Patrick Ngcobo, the first non-Indian classical singer, who recently returned from India after studying with distin-guished musicologist, K J Yesudas. His accompanying group comes from India.

Musician Kogie Raman of Stanger performs alongside dancers Devendri Vadival, who graduated in Indian dance in Madras, and Thanushree Pillay and Priya Ambaram of the Bharat Bhavan School of Dance who performed their Arengetram recently.

EXPERIENCE

"This year's festival should be a new experience for music and dance fans," says TP. "All items are original in concept and set to live music with the added attraction of seeing South Africa's first nadaswaram player, Nanbanathan Nayager".

TP gratefully acknowledges the major sponsors who have made this ambitious festival possible: Durban Arts, Tastic

Rice, KZN Arts Trust and Air India.

In previous years the festival was presented free of charge but this year there will be a R10 admission charge. Tickets on sale from the Indian Aca-demy, 1 Oribi Circle, Mobeni Heights. Tel: 400-2725.

LAST MUSICIANS BALL



The old days of dancing under the stars at the Athlone Hotel in its heyday can be relived with The Last Musicians Ball on May 17 - a last fling before the hotel closes. Entertainment will be provided by the George Hayden and Colin Penn bands, Bobby Minter and the Barristers, the John Drake Quartette and the GJ's.

THEATRE CATS



The Playhouse Theatre Cats (children between six and 12 years) meet on the last Saturday each month in the Play-house Alhambra Room from 10h30 and 13h00 (May 25).