Media release: 12 August 2009
Festivals within the festival
add impact to 2009 Arts Alive
If there's one outstanding fresh, new feature of the 17th Arts Alive International festival it's the myriad of festivals within the festival!
Parents will be thrilled to know that 2009 sees the introduction of Johannesburg's Kids Day, sponsored by Old Mutual and taking place at Emmarentia Dam on Sunday September 6th.
This brilliant festival will feature a stage presentation by Beautiful Creatures - the stars of a series of popular CDs created by Ed Jordan and Alan Glass. Just for a day, the Emmarentia Botanic Gardens will be turned in a kids paradise featuring jumping castles, magicians, clowns, fictional and fluffy life-size characters.
The Fietas Festival is a unique cultural celebration, which starts on HERITAGE day - 24 September and runs through to Sunday 27. This festival is located in the historically famous, Vrededorp/Pageview area. The Fietas Festival in many ways recaptures the essence of the community that was destroyed by the Group Areas Act under apartheid.
Established in 2002 the festival is a spirited celebration of cultural diversity and heritage. Highlights include a performance by a leading group of Qawali singers, a Langarm Dance at the Springbok Hall, a David Goldblatt Exhibition which features photographs of the area and a touching inter-generational Kite making and flying dialogue linking generations. There will be food, music, reflection and at its heart prayer.
A now regular and much anticipated part of Arts Alive is 'Shared History: The Indian Experience in South Africa', an eight week extravaganza of music, theatre, fashion, dance, food, film, literature, arts and crafts that reaches Joburg in September. This event is an exciting window into contemporary Indian culture. The best in mainstream dance, visual arts, film and music finds a compelling platform during Joburg ARTS ALIVE.
Also adding an international Eastern flavour to Arts Alive is the Thailand Grand Festival, which takes place on Saturday September 12th and Sunday September 13th at Zoo Lake. Highlights in their line-up includes a Thai Puppet Show which depicts the exquisite RAMAYAN - the romantic tale of Rama and Sita, Thai Handicraft displays include umbrella painting and products made from coconut shells. There will be delicious Thai cuisine on sale and a sumptuous Silk fashion show on which to feast the eye!
The Soweto Festival, is a four day event running from September 24th to 27th... Business and culture share the stage in celebrating the opportunities that lie at the heart of SOWETO.
For more information on the 2009 Arts Alive International Festival's festival programme go to www.artsalive.co.za
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.
