FLATFOOT AUDITIONS

Flatfoot Dance Company is holding auditions for professional dancers for 2012.

Flatfoot Dance Company is an award-winning African Contemporary dance company based in Durban. The company, which works from a home-base given to it by the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Howard College Campus), is looking for male and female dancers over the age of 21 who are interested in joining the company on a full-time professional contract (35 hours a week) as of January 1, 2012.

This is a full-time contract of one year so dancers cannot be studying or hold other part-time employment. Flatfoot has a full annual programme that includes performance seasons both in and out of South Africa, dance education and development programmes, and schools/university dance education work. They work in a contemporary idiom based on Hawkins, Graham and Release Technique but the company also do a weekly ballet and pilates class. All Flatfoot dancers form part of the administration of the company and its programmes and new company members will need to be able to write reports (guidance is always offered!) and assist with negotiated administrative tasks.

JOB REQUIREMENTS: A minimum of two years full or part-time contemporary dance training and/or professional dance work as well as proven dance/arts education experience (formal and non-formal educational/arts environments will be considered). They also need writing and administration skills (English and/or isiZulu) and to be computer literate (minimum of WORD). Applications must be over the age of 21 and have a valid South African passport. A valid South African driver's licence will be an added benefit.

Dancers who feel they meet the minimum requirements and have the dedication to hard work that Flatfoot demands from its dancers/dance educators, need to book a place at the audition with the company manager (see details below). Those who have not pre-booked an audition place will not be allowed into the audition!

A further requirement is a maximum three-page Curriculum Vitae (CV) which should include (amongst whatever else you may deem relevant) contact details, the names and contact details of at least two referees, a short list of where and with whom - you have received dance training; with whom you may have worked/danced with professionally or in your training, and a short list of any dance/arts education work you may have been involved in. This CV should be given to the Flatfoot company manager on the day of the audition.

Auditions will take place on November 14 and it is vital to arrive in good time as late-comers will not be allowed in. The venue is Dance Studio 2 on the UKZN Durban campus (ask for directions if you are not familiar with the venue).

Registration and own warm-up will be from 13h30 to 14h00 followed by the audition class with Flatfoot’s Artistic Director Lliane Loots from 14h00 to 16h00.

You are not required to prepare anything for the audition as it will take the format of a company class in the style that Flatfoot work. The audition, however, will include some improvisation exercises as part of the class process.

Within the week following the audition, the Artistic Director will make a shortlist and call back those selected dancers for an interview. * Thereafter a final decision will be made. All auditionees will have an answer either way by December 1, 2011. It is also the prerogative of the company not to employ those who audition if it is felt that they may not fulfil the working mandate of Flatfoot Dance Company.

If you are offered a contract with Flatfoot, please note that it will be an initial three month probation contract where you will be mentored and guided into the work process of the company and have regular meetings with the AD as to your progress. The probation salary is R4,000.00 (four thousand rand) per month. Should you make it through the three-month probation period as suits both yourself and Flatfoot, a different/slightly higher salary package will be negotiated which will also be related to your experience and expertise.

For any queries or to book contact Clare, Company Manager, on 082 875 6065 or email: craighead@ukzn.ac.za

*(NB: If you are travelling from outside of Durban to attend the audition, please make this known when you sign in for the audition so that if you are short-listed, Flatfoot can call you back as soon as possible to accommodate you)