The Youth of the Langeberg dancing their way to success.

Posted by Mareletta Mundey on 10 March 2020 1:00 PM CAT

– Montagu-Ashton Tourism is so proud and honoured to support Dancescape South Africa NPO

I am writing this with a BIG smile on my face – knowing that my heart is bursting with Pride – some of our amazing local youth – call them stars, against all odds, is currently dancing in Hamburg.

I’ll let Mitya explain how Dancescape youth danced their way to Hamburg, Germany:

“Dancescape South Africa has started the New Year and the new decade with a bang. We have been hard at work preparing to visit Germany in mid-February 2020. DSA has been invited to attend the 7^th Biennale Tanzausbildung 2020 in Hamburg. We will be gathering with national and international schools of dance. It’s going to be a very special time of learning and exploring the art of dance. A huge event and one which we are all looking forward to. The Biennale is held every two years and is a week of intense dance training.  The event will take place at the world famous Kampnagel – International center for Finer Arts. Each group will be given the opportunity to perform and we are proud to be representing South Africa at this event. Each student will also be able to view performances by professional dancers in the “Focus Tanz” running alongside the Biennale.

“Kampnagel is one of the most outstanding and biggest art centres in Europe. It is known as a major platform for innovative performance, theatre, contemporary dance and other related arts in the international as well as local context. Kampnagel has established itself as a place, which presents side by side well-known names of the international arts scene for example Peter Brook, Robert Wilson, Pina Bausch, Rebert Lepage, Arianne Mnouchkine and Rosas. It is also a place where young unknown artists have started their international careers.”- A quote from our invitation letter.

You may be wondering how we were given such a wonderful opportunity. News of our project was sent to prominent people by a local Montagu business man. This led to new contacts being forged with those interested in helping our communities and in particular our disadvantaged youth in the townships. Late last year we were invited to attend the Biennale and accepted the invitation without delay. Our group consists of five students and a teacher. Three of these students are now studying full time at the Cape Academy of Performing Arts in Cape Town. The other two youngsters are currently training with our project in Zolani, Ashton.  I chose to commission Lihle Mfene, the most senior of all the dancers, to choreograph a piece to perform at the Biennale. I am delighted to say that his work has a strong African flavour and reflects South Africa well. It’s going to be an intense week and I am sure our young dancers will return full of new ideas and will be truly inspired. I hope to provide more feedback on the actual trip in later publications. Please view our project on the web for more information.

Mitya Sargeant (Director: Dancescape South Africa)

We’re now anxiously await their return to share in all the lovely news and highs of such an opportunity.

We’re committed to keep supporting Dancescape South Africa- and opportunities such as these make it all worth it.