Media release: 12 August 2009
From classical to critically acclaimed
modern dance, Arts Alive has it all!
Fans of dance in all its manifestations are in for an exceptional month when the 2009 Arts Alive International Festival kicks off in September!
This year's programme includes a defiantly South African interpretation of Carmen, several astonishing beautiful pieces that form part of the Shared History: the Indian Experience in South Africa programme and performances by leading local and National Dance companies in the NAC Giyani Dance initiative.
Dada Masilo's Carmen was called a "work of art" by critics during its run at the recent National Arts Festival in Grahamstown and it starts at the Dance Factory on September 10th. The piece sees Dada Masilo take "a generally politely veiled tale of sexual violence and manipulation, and splits its seams wide…" wrote Robyn Sassen in Cue this July.
Giyani Dance will present three different programmes during a feast of dance at the Joburg Theatre from the 23 - 25 September. They will also present work at the Dance Factory, the Alexander Theatre as well as several other venues as well as the Soweto Festival. Giyani Dance offers a spectacular showcase of the broadest and most vibrant cross spectrum of the best of the country's developmental and professional dance work, representing all cultures, provinces and genres.
Other highlights in the dance programme include the South African Ballet Theatre's performance of 'Giselle'. ARTS ALIVE is partnering with SABT in their development and outreach work and has undertaken to ensure that hundreds of children from disadvantaged communities are bussed in to experience this classical art form. The Indian Shared Histories in partnership with ARTS ALIVE will present 'Sarpagati' (The Way of the Serpent) by the Daksha Sheth Dance Company which has received international acclaim plays at the Dance Factory from the 15 - 16 September. This is followed by two performances of SHREE - classical Indian Dance at its finest. On the 19 & 20 September.
Note to editor:
The 2009 Arts Alive International Festival is a project of the City of Joburg's Arts, Culture and Heritage department and is being staged by Zanusi Brand Solutions. Festival partners are the SABC, the National Arts Council, Wits University (Department of Humanities), Royal Thai Embassy, Austrian Embassy, Indian Embassy, Alliance Francaise, Soweto Festival, Johannesburg Festival of Shopping.
