KZNDANCELINK’S IMBUMBA 2012

The annual youth dance performance, Imbumba, celebrates its 12th birthday this year with a showcase of new work by 16 vibrant young dance groups at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on May 22 and 23.

Directed by seasoned Durban dancer and choreographer Pravika Nandkishore, presented by KZN DanceLink and supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, it forms part of the annual National Creative Youth Arts Festival.

“Imbumba celebrates the work of KZN DanceLink’s younger members and covers a vast range of dance, age groups and music and is a dance event I look forward to every year,” said Chairman Lynn Maree. “As always with young people, a love of dance, energy, vitality and the grand variety of styles they perform, shows in their delight in their bodies, in the music they dance to and the people they dance with and is a celebration of their humanity. Watching this brings great joy and a sense of hope.”

A showcase of some of KZN’s very best youth dance, Imbumba celebrates a vast range of styles and genres from hip-hop and pantsula to Indian Kathak, Afro-contemporary fusion and classical ballet. This year it features 16 new dance works choreographed by some of the province’s top dance teachers and choreographers, including Ntombi Gasa, Minette de Klerk, Musa Hlatshwayo, Pravika Nandkishore, Smeetha Maharaj, Sifiso Khumalo and Vusi Makanya.

Performances are as follows:

May 22: Bright Sparks, BellyFusion, Pravika’s Kathak Kendra, iGugu Lubasha (Clermont), Dance Movement, Hatto Players, Stonebridge Cultural Project, KwaMashu School of Dance.

May 23: Pravika’s Kathak Kendra, God’s Golden Acre, uBuhle Besintu, iGugu Lubasha (Saturday), The Field Band Academy ‘s Movement and Performance Department, The Young Ones, Chelsea Preparatory School, Nateshwar Dance Academy,

“Because of the huge demand for young dancers to participate in Imbumba, we have had to split the performances over two nights,” said Maree. “This is a sure sign that KZN DanceLink’s consistency of existence is supportive of the work young dancers strive to produce. These young dancers, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds, epitomise the vibrant mixture of culture and creativity of our nation.”

On May 22, straight after the Imbumba performance, KZN DanceLink will award its Durban Dance Awards in various categories, including choreographer, dancer and newcomer. Owing to funding difficulties the Awards were last made in late 2009.

Imbumba will be staged at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on May 22 and 23 at 19h00. Performances are free but there will be a Pay What You Can box in the foyer for patrons who wish to show their appreciation of the work.