DEADLINE FOR SCHOLARSHIP

Deadline for ACT/DALRO’s first scholarship is April 30.

The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT), in association with the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO) launches the first scholarship in its new Scholarship Programme.

The ACT/DALRO Performing Arts Scholarship has been made possible with the generous support of DALRO (The Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation). Media partnerships have been secured with ClassicFeel magazine, an already long-standing print media partner of ACT, and a new radio partnership with Redstar Talent which forms part of the group of companies inclusive in the OFM family.

“Where there is music and singing there is inevitably dance. In South Africa we know this first-hand because in this country music, song and dance have been performed since time immemorial to commemorate the full cycle of social and ritual activity, including birth, initiation, courtship, marriage, warfare, a good harvest and death. South Africa is widely recognised as the best resourced country in sub-Saharan Africa in terms of formal training for the performing arts and many of our graduates have attained recognition on the international performance circuit,” said Brenda Devar, Chairperson of ACT.

“With Le Mis, Beauty and the Beast, Rent and Chicago being presented on South African stages, the interest in seeing, performing and developing works in this genre continues to expand,” she continues. “The ACT | DALRO Performing Arts Scholarship speaks directly to this increasing demand for knowledge, material and excellence of performance.”

The panel of judges convened by Devar comprises esteemed theatre, dance and singing professionals including Yvonne Chaka Chaka, David Dennis, Hazel Feldman, Vicky Friedman, Gregory Maqoma, Warren Nebe and Kate Normington.

The ACT/DALRO Performing Arts Scholarship programme will take the form of an annual competition in which a R75,000 scholarship can be won to study acting, dancing, singing or musical theatre at an accredited South African tertiary institution of the winner’s choice. The process commenced early in 2009 with a public call for registrations. The closing date for registrations is April 30 2009. A limited number of registrations will be subsidised.

Learners in their final year of secondary education or anyone who has an interest in or experience in the performing arts that are not currently registered for an undergraduate performing arts course are eligible to participate in this national competition. They will be required to demonstrate competence in singing, dancing and acting and the judges will be looking for candidates with exceptional talent in at least one of the three disciplines. Individuals who have experience in the performing arts, but who are not currently registered for a degree, are also eligible and are encouraged to enter.

The first regional round will be held at the 2009 South African National Schools Festival in Grahamstown from July 12 to 16, 2009. Subsequent regional rounds will follow in Durban and Johannesburg between July 17 and 25, 2009. During the regional rounds, participants will be adjudicated by Brenda Devar and members of the ACT management team, all with expertise in the performing arts. Finalists will be selected and will compete for the scholarship at a final round which will take place in Johannesburg on September 29. During the final round, candidates will present a prepared programme comprising acting, singing and dancing as well as three group items which will be directed and choreographed by industry professionals.

Rules of the competition, guidelines for preparation and all the relevant registration forms can be downloaded from www.act.org.za/downloads.htm. For further information please contact Pieter Jacobs at 011 463 6705 or e-mail pieter@act.org.za