JOMBA! 2009

The 11th JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts will present the 11th JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience in Durban from April 22 to May 3. This year’s full length two week festival will feature a host of international and local top class contemporary dance theatre performances with a full programme of dance workshops running alongside.

With the key focus on celebrating the dance work of our own continent, JOMBA! is delighted to be hosting the Nigerian company Ijodee Dance Theatre. This Lagos-based company has traveled the world wooing audiences with their unique style and come to JOMBA! to dazzle local audience with their skill and power.

Apart from performing their own repertoire, they will also collaborate with Durban’s popular Flatfoot Dance Company to present a joint work that truly is about African encounters - not to be missed!

One of the highlights on the local front is a commission awarded to both Neliswa Rushualang and Ntombi Gaza of Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre who will present new works for this edition of JOMBA! Siwela Sonke has been training up a new generation of dancers and the JOMBA! commissions will introduce these dancers’ fluidity and grace into Durban. Both Rushualang and Gaza are two formidable women whose choreographic voices will challenge and delight at the same time.

The exciting programme of cutting-edge local and international dancers and choreographers for JOMBA! 2009 also includes an open Fringe programme and a free Youth Fringe day plus a host of free dance classes and workshops.

The 11th JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience runs from April 22 to May 3 at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. See www.cca.ukzn.ac.za for more details or contact 031 260 2506 or click on the advert on the main artSMart pages.