The South African Society for the
Advancement of Dancing (SASAD) has done it again, only this time even better. Their
annual Dance Congress, currently running at Danville Girls High School in
Durban North, draws tutors and students from all points of the globe, to come
together and learn from each other.
This prestigious event, which runs from
March 29 to 31, has grown from strength to strength, and many overseas artists
and choreographers are keen to come and share with the students their knowledge
of the various forms of dance that they specialise in. The congress is open for
students from as young as 5 years of age. There are nine dance disciplines that
the students can participate in, namely, Ballet, Jazz, Street Jazz, African
Contemporary, Release Technique, Tap, Hip Hop and Musical Theatre.
The Ballet classes will be tutored by
Jessica Kidwell (Junior) and Annebelle Wahl (Seniors, Pointe and repertoire
classes). Jessica was locally trained in Durban and went on to dance for PACT.
She relocated to the UK in 1998 where she spent eight years training the
students at the Royal Ballet School in London specializing in core stability
and strength as well as flexibility and fitness. In 2010 Jessica was approached
to train the ‘Billy Elliots’ for the musical Billy Elliot on London’s West End. Annebelle furthered her Dance teaching
studies in London for three years at The College of the Royal Academy of Dance.
She is currently teaching Ballet, Modern and National dance at own Studio in
Roodepoort, Gauteng , as well as acting as an approved Tutor and facilitator
for the Royal Academy of Dance Faculty of Education , and Examiner for the
Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, National Faculty , and Adjudicator for
dance competitions and Festivals nationally.
Lisa Wilson will be taking the Contemporary
classes. Lisa is a dance educator, performer and choreographer from Kingston,
Jamaica. She is a newcomer to the South African arts scene having only been
recently appointed lecturer and course convener at the School of Dance,
University of Cape Town. She loves teaching dance and is a firm believer in the
power of dance, and the arts, to transform mind, body and soul.
Ashley Searle will be taking the Musical
Theatre classes and the Junior Jazz Classes. Ashley has become a popular choice
for inspirational dance workshops not only for his theatrical attitude to dance
and performance, but also for his charm and charisma with a crowd. His company
Follow Spot Productions has flourished producing four shows to date performing
all over South Africa to sold out audiences.
Maxwell Rani will conduct the African
Contemporary classes, which will bridge the gap for students who are looking to
break into the local world of dance, which more often than not includes a form
of African dance. Maxwell is a lecturer at the University Of Cape Town School
Of Dance.
Kerry Domoney will take the Tap classes.
Kerry is the Owner and Director of Rhythm Productions Dance Centre, creative
director of Grace Dance Company, principal and teacher of dance training in
modern, tap, contemporary dance and technique, director and principal of
teachers training and consultant to free lance teachers.
The local Hip Hop fraternity has not been
left out, as SASAD has secured the services of Jason Sisam. Jason has “The Sky
is the Limit” attitude and is driven by his passion for dance!! He is from Cape
Town and is the Founder & Creative Director of DHONAA Productions™.
Nicola Haskins will be taking Release
Technique......the 'release technique' describes movements which follow the
natural lines and movements of the body. These techniques are not
choreographed, and involve the movements that the body would make; say if one
was fainting, stretching, exhaling, etc.
This Dance Congress is open to all teachers
and students of dance, and enquiries can be forwarded to Des on 082 5631995, or
email sasadinfo@gmail.com
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