[The Natural Arts Diary 1997 - Click for information]

Support our Sponsors:
South African Arts Diary 1997		Africa Art Gallery
Take part in the 9th International Eisteddfod of SA		Exquisite II Art Gallery
El Guappo Restaurant Theatre	The Supper Stage Restaurant Theatre	Artworks Graphic Design	Elizabeth Gordon Gallery Works by Top SA Artists
Howick Falls Craft Market November 10 09h00-15h00	Andrew Walford Christmas Exhibition 8 December	Camp's Drift Market Crafts and Flea Market	Artmates Art - Graphic - Craft - Display Materials

DANCE

SHONGOLOLO 1996

FNB Vita and the Playhouse Dance Department present the third FNB Vita Dance Shongololo in the Playhouse Drama Theatre from November 14 to 16 at 19h30 with a Fringe Day on Novem-ber 17 from 10h00. Dance Shongololo comprises four programmes of new cho-reography in styles such as contempo-rary dance, pantsula, ballet and gumboot.

HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights are expected from Andrew Gilder, David Krugel and Debbie Goodman from Cape Town, Boyzie Cekwana, Indian dance specialist Jayesperi Moopen and Vusabantu Ngema wlast year's winner of the Dance Shon-gololo Best Choreographer Award.

Works are also expected from Playhouse Dance Company members Debbie de la Harpe, DesirŠ Davids and Shion Unser.

Vincent Hathway has choreographed Soul Searching and Gertrude Baai will present The Sky Is the Limit and Paul Datlen 70% H20. Peter Court, who recently directed the Playhouse Puppet Company's Rainbow has entered When People Build Walls. There's also My Father's House by Lliane Loots.

FRINGE

The FNB Vita Dance Shongololo Fringe programme starts at 10h00 on November 17 and includes works by Boyzie Cekwana, Marie-Heleen Coetzee, Siyabonga Hlongwa, Hastings Khumalo, Siphiwe Khumalo, Sibonglsemi Myeza, Mdu Mtshali, Caesar Mkhize, Sydney Mzobe, Priscilla Maphumulo, Mbeki Madhiba, Moses Ngobese, John Ramaota, Albert Vilakazi, Loshni Naidu, Sibongisemo Myeza, Makyhotsi Mbatha, Ed Salt, Naphtal Sithole, Sibusiso Madlala, Thokozani Makokhobe and the V N Naik School for the Deaf.

Tickets are R10 (R6 for bookings of 10 or more). Tickets from Computicket or the Playhouse box office.

STEPS INTO DANCE

The Steps into Dance programme run by the Playhouse Dance Department has included more classes which promise fun and enjoyment while offering technical training to those who want it. In the main, the classes are conducted by dance company members.

Open ballet classes taught by Helen Thomas are held on Monday evenings. Stepping Forward is taught by Tumi Mokgope on Tuesday (beginners) and Thursday (advanced) evenings.

WEEKEND

Over the weekend there are classes for children of all ages with Eric Shabalala of Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre taking a free Advanced Open Class. Creative Contemporary Dance is taught by Desire Davids, Andrew Gilder takes an invita-tion Boys Ballet Class and Contem- porary African Dance is taught by Vusabantu Ngema. All Sunday classes are free of charge but times may change. CONTEMPORARY DANCE

Simpiwe Magazi of Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre conducts an African Contem-porary Dance Course at the Playhouse from November 2 to December 21 on Saturday mornings (08h30-10h00). The cost of the course is R120.

Details from Mandy French on 369-9433.

TEA DANCES

Judy Victor and Bobby Minter's popular social ballroom dance evenings, Tea Dances, have found a new home at the Umbilo Sports Club on the corner of Penzance and Umbilo Road.

"There is a big floor where you can try out all your fancy steps without bumping into anyone!" says Bobby. "There is also adequate safe parking and club drinks." As usual the tea dances will be the first Thursday in the month, with the next function being held on November 7. The entrance fee is still R10 pp.

SIWELA SONKE

The Siwela Sonke Dance theatre returned from India last month having showcased the vibrancy of South African dance forms across India in Ahimsa-Ubuntu.

Choreographer Jay Pather, also the company's artistic director, has created Wet and other works. Structured in four pieces it takes a witty light-hearted look at the languorous and sultry days of summer and - just as summer heralds rain - uses a lot of water on stage!

Wet and other works

will be performed at the BAT Centre in December.

KZN DANCE FORUM

The Playhouse Dance Department will host a meeting on November 16 from 13h15 to 14h15 in the Alhambra Room of the Playhouse complex.

The aim of this meeting is to discuss ways and means of establishing a KZN Dance Forum. The Playhouse Company is calling on choreographers, dancers and people generally interested in dance to attend this all- important meeting. Ideas, suggestions and proposals are needed. Please phone 369-9555.

HEXAGON DANCE

The University of Natal is currently presenting Wham, bam...catch me, man, two programmes of contemporary dance, in the Hexagon Theatre until November 2. The programmes have been choreo- graphed by a range of new and expe-rienced choreographers.

Tickets cost R6. Details from 260-5537.

Marcellas