(Pic: Pravika Nandkishore, Sifiso Khumalo, Ntombi Gasa and Vusi Makanya)Durban's melting pot of culture notched up another successful year.
Some 120 youngsters performed in KZN DanceLink's Giyani Lusha 2010 on July 25 at North Beach in Durban.
While other children enjoyed a long holiday, the dancers on display at this year's youth dance performance rehearsed their hearts out for the two exuberant dance pieces that make up Giyani Lusha. One of KZN DanceLink's most successful projects, Giyani Lusha is staged annually on the last Sunday of July in celebration of the province's youth. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this year's production was choreographed by Sifiso Khumalo, Pravika Nandkishore, Vusi Makanya and Ntombi Gasa.
Giyani Lusha 2010 featured young performers from various dance groups and outreach programmes - from KwaMashu to Phoenix and Chatsworth to Umlazi. These included the Aryan Benevolent Home, Dudlu Ntombi (KwaMashu), God's Golden Acre, Stonebridge Cultural Project, iGugu Lubasha Clermont, iGugu Lubasha Saturday Group, Siyakhula, Hheshe Nsizwa, Rise and Shine, KwaMashu School of Dance, Minette de Klerk School of Dance and The Young One's Kitsona's Kids. It also featured music and dancing from the colourful and vibrant Field Band Foundation.
KZN DanceLink organiser Lynn Maree said Giyani Lusha rated as the organisation's most fulfilling project of the year: “It introduces children, who would never normally have the opportunity, to the joy of dance and to performing on stage for an audience."
Award-winning choreographer Ntombi Gasa who has been involved with the project for several years, said she is constantly inspired by the young performers' passion and dedication: "They love coming to rehearsals and they really love being on stage," she said. "Giyani Lusha is a showcase of unity among diverse groups and the children certainly show this off wonderfully."
This year, Maree was overwhelmed by the demand from youngsters to be in the show: "We could have had 300 kids without making any effort at all," she said. "Everyone who has ever been in Giyani Lusha in the past 10 years wants to be in it again, and many other community dance groups, church groups and individual kids are lining up to offer themselves."
The performance was free, thanks to funding from the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund.
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