(Nqubeko “Cue” Ngema photographed in The
Gift at Fresha Festival in January. Pic by Vanessa Cracknell)
Two
high-energy, visionary young dancers: Cue Ngema and Nosipho Mkhize, are
assembling a stellar line up of independent Durban-based multi-media creatives
in a glorious afternoon showcase of poetry, music, dance, drama, visual art,
painting and design entitled Salute
African Goddess, on August 12 at the Alliance Française de Durban, to
honour Women’s Month.
Ngema
and Mkhize have invested huge care and energy in curating a programme of
performers, art-makers and innovators who don’t regularly appear on stage
together. Their line-up includes some of the best seasoned professionals,
foreign nationals, emerging talent and fringe performers to ensure the
programme is interesting, innovative, fresh and meaningful.
Although
much of the work speaks particularly to women’s issues, the participants are
men and women, youthful and experienced, cross-cultural and multi-lingual.
“We want
to salute and honour our women through our artistry, and to provide a platform
for some really exciting performers and artists,” enthused Cue Ngema.
Nqubeko
“Cue” Ngema is a 23 year old post-graduate from Durban University of
Technology. He studied drama and performance studies, specialising in Dance and
Educational Theatre. He also has been part of the Flatfoot Dance Company’s
Training programme during his varsity studies. He has participated in Jomba,
Dance Umbrella, Grahamstown National Art Festival and Dance Drama festivals. He
is recently under Phakama dance theatre at the Playhouse doing his one year
dance teaching internship.
Nosipho
Mkhize obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Drama, Performance Studies and Music at
the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She trained in contemporary dance at the
Flatfoot Contemporary Dance Training Company and learnt basic ballet techniques
at the Mary-Anne Salvage Ballet School. In 2014, Nosipho started a small
community arts project called Born to Dance Youth Programme, now registered as Dance
Life Africa, where she taught contemporary dance at University of Zululand. She
is currently training under the Phakama Dance Theatre at the Playhouse Theatre
Company. In her spare time when she’s not dancing, she’s a model and a
copywriter for Algorhythmlab, a digital marketing company.
When
funding support wasn’t forthcoming, the two dancers remained committed to
staging the event and decided to produce the event themselves. Nosipho, a
competent and skilled baker, started a cake business from home, Gloryart Café,
as she plans to later on build her small cake business into a full running,
glorious arts café filled with entertainment and fashion boutiques. To fund the
project, Nosipho daily bakes cakes and delicacies which Cue Ngema and friends
sell. The revenue generated from this entrepreneurial endeavour is funding Salute African Goddess.
Salute African Goddess takes place on August 12 from
15h00 to 18h00 at Alliance Française de Durban, 22 Sutton Crescent in Durban. Entry
R50 (R25 students with ID) includes free drink. For more information contact 062
361 8950.
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