DURBAN ARTS

FILM-MAKERS

Film-maker and Durban Arts Board member Alson Gcwabaza together with Sakhile Cele who has several years experience in the film industry are co-ordinators of the Durban Arts multi-communities video training project.

"The scheme has already produced many potential video technicians. With its tropical climate, wonderful coastal and inland scenery, and its historic impor-tance, KZN is a perfect province for a vibrant film industry," says Lindi Gross, member of the Durban Arts audiovisual, film and video sub-committee and Durban Arts promotions manager.

"These two pioneers aim to motivate the industry in general to become more involved in making videos and films with local content and of local interest," adds Lindi.

Anyone interested in participating or contributing, should contact Lindi Gross

on 23-1236.

ARTS UNLIMITED

The television programme on the arts, Arts Unlimited, is transmitted on Thursdays at 22h10 on SABC3. Arts Unlimited is produced by Allen Auld.

DURBAN ARTS

LUNCH HOURS

Every Wednesday at 13h00 Durban Arts presents free lunch-hour concerts on the City Hall steps. These provide a platform for new and often untried talent. The line-up for August is:

Aug 7: Lawrence "Satchmo" Mekoa and the Rebirth Dancers - "Satchmo," from Ntuzuma township near kwaMashu, sings Louis Armstrong's songs as well as his own compositions and entertains the audience with tap dancing.

He will share the programme with the Rebirth Pantsula dancers who perform with umbrellas.

These five youngsters from Chesterville were 1991 Shell Road to Fame winners.

(This programme forms the University of Natal's Music Department concert in Howard College on August 5)

Aug 14: Creatures of God - 14 gospel singers, accompanied by a keyboard player from Inanda township.

Aug 21: Kings Vocal - Isicathamiya group from Indwedwe comprising five singers led by Skhumbuzo Majola.

Aug 28: Siyakha - an Afro-music group from kwaMashu led by Mr Mavu with band accompaniment.

FORUM POSTPONEMENT

The planned Open Forum as part of Durban Arts's public awareness campaign which should have been held at the end of July has had to be post-poned because of the difficulty in co-ordinating availability of guest speakers.

The Open Forum will now be held on August 24 in the Jubilee Room in the City Hall from 10h00 to 16h00 with a break for lunch.

During the morning session, people will be invited to put forward their comments, criticisms or suggestions from the floor (five minutes maximum).

People may come in and out at any time, say their piece and then go.

Comments will be recorded on tape for later assessment.

The afternoon session will present key speakers in national arts management as well as provincial representatives. There will be a period where questions may be put from the floor.

Watch the daily press for further details.

CHILDREN'S CHOIR

The world-famous Chicago Children's Choir and the Pietermaritzburg Children's Choir will perform at the City Hall on August 1 at 19h30. Enquiries to 42-4896.

DURBAN DANCERS FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Two of the amateur stars at the last Durban Arts New Year's Eve Street Ballroom, Wayne Smith and Gaynor McFarlane, have been chosen by the National Amateur Ballroom Federation (FEDANSA) to dance for South Africa at the world amateur ballroom cham-pionships in Vienna on November 16.

Most fittingly, both are pupils of Mrs Pat Dougall, teacher of more than a generation of Durban dancers who has played the main role in making the Durban Arts street ballroom concerts the popular success events they have become since early 1988.

Wayne and Gaynor are among the first amateurs to dance for South Africa at the world championships since the international boycott was lifted.

Their airfares to Vienna are being sponsored by South African Airways.

ICE

Durban Arts street ballroom has been on ice for four months because Pat Dougall was suffering from a back complaint but she expects to be fit for the next street ballroom planned for October. "Although originally called the Quarterly Street Ballroom, we find it too cold for both the public and performers to dance in the open air during the cold months between May and September," says Durban Arts director, Noel Fairhurst.

JAPANESE GARDENS

A craft market is held in the Japanese Gardens in Pinetown on the last Sunday of every month (August 25). Inside the entrance is a tea garden offering light meals from 09h30 to 16h30.

Phone John Simons 705-2194.

Sharon Katz