NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD ACADEMY

Young Performer Awards 2012: call for Entries

The National Eisteddfod Academy (NEA), a platform for youth development in music, dance, drama and visual arts, funded by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF), is calling for entries for the 2012 NEA Young Performer Awards.

This project was initially launched in 2004 for youth performers in the various regions of the National Eisteddfod. Since 2006, this competition has been open to top achievers in all other existing eisteddfods and festivals in South Africa and entries have grown to more than 1,000 entries annually. Previous winners of this prestigious competition include Andile Ndlovu and Camille Bracher (both top achievers in the SA International Ballet Competition) and Julian Hepburn (finalist in “SA’s got talent”).

The closing date for entries from participants who achieved diplomas and similar awards in any festivals and competitions (excluding examinations), is February 10, 2012.

The competition provides the next level of participation for all recipients of diploma (or similar awards) in various festivals or competitions. It provides a platform where the best, young performers in music, dance and drama can compete and showcase their talents. The adjudication process of four rounds will take place at the ProMusica Theatre, Roodepoort.

The First round will take place from February 28 to March 17. A panel of adjudicators will adjudicate all entries and identify a limited number of participants to move onto the Quarter final round which will run from March 17 to 22. The Semi-Final round from May 7 to 10 will be presented as evening concerts. Separate events will be presented for Classical Music, Contemporary Music, Dance and Drama. Only a limited number of participants are invited to each of the semi-final rounds and the overall junior and senior winners of all sections will be announced at this round.

The junior and senior winners of the dance, contemporary and classical music, as well as drama sections (as determined during the various semi-final rounds) will finally compete for the overall awards on May 19 at the ProMusica Theatre. This event will be adjudicated by a panel of adjudicators representing the various genres. Previous adjudicators of the final event over the past years have included Sibongile Ngoma, Gladys Agulhas, Neil Sandilands, Henry Mylne, Bianca le Grange, Vinette Ebrahim, David April, Fiona Budd, Iain MacDonald, Roderick Jaftha, Diane Coutts, Jan Engelen, Paul du Toit, June Kraus, Annake de Viliers, Jolette Odendaal and Tiro Moshosho.

Prize money of R50,000 will be awarded to the top junior and senior performers in the Classical, Crossover and Contemporary Music, Speech and Drama and Dance genres.

Artslink.co.za, an award-winning internet-based wire service for South African arts, culture and entertainment news and reviews, has also sponsored an amount of R10,000 towards the Awards prize money. This will be allocated to the award for the Overall Best Performer in all genres.

“We are honoured to be associated with the National Eisteddfod Academy which has done such sterling work for so many years, nurturing and developing our up-and-coming actors, dancers and musicians,” said Artslink.co.za editor, Jennifer de Klerk.

Recipients of diplomas or similar awards (90% and higher) in other eisteddfods and festivals during 2011, are invited to enter for the NEA Awards in the categories for which they have received diplomas or similar awards (excluding all unprepared and improvised work). Participants in other festivals need to submit certified copies of the relevant diploma and an adjudicator’s report with each entry. The organisers of other eisteddfods and festivals may also nominate their top achievers for participation in the NEA Young Performer Awards.

Entry forms, entry fees and additional information are available on the NEA website www.eisteddfod.co.za. Complete the entry form, attach proof of payment and fax to 011 787 3534 before February 10, 2012.

For any further information please visit www.eisteddfod.co.za or contact the NEA Office on 011 886 6005 / fax: 011 787 3534 / e-mail: info@eisteddfod.co.za . Follow the NEA on Twitter @NEA_Eisteddfod or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/nearsa