(Vusi
Makanya)
The 3rd Annual KwaSuka Schools Festival
took place on May 26, 2018.
Founded by dancer and choreographer Vusi
Makanya of KwaMashu School of Dance Theatre (KMSDT), the Annual KwaSuka Schools
Festival concentrates on exposing and teaching pupils the beauty of
contemporary dance and gives them the opportunity to experience the feeling of
being in theatre on stage, share personal stories through integration of
physical movement and emotional expression.
This festival gives a sense of achievement
and mastery that contributes to self-confidence and empowerment to young South
African future leaders. To keep the festival vivacious and add on the flavour,
Makanya made it a competition to reward hard-working and self-deserving young
dancers.
The competition also aims to motivate
choreographers to do their best. KwaSuka School's Festival gives KMSDT's professional
development trainees a chance to showcase their choreographing and teaching
skills by picking schools to teach near their homes as a part of their training
programme. Killing more than two birds with one stone, KwaSuka School's
Festival teaches KMSDT dancers and learners from surrounding high and primary
schools more about contemporary dance. The festival also gives one day
workshops for arts and culture teachers to experience arts integration, arts in
education and movement laboratory. while giving the best of the best shows to
the public
“I would like to formally thank all of our
donors and supporters, volunteers and KMSDT trainees who showed the effort in
this year's Schools Festival to help make it as successful as it was. The 2018
festival was supposed to be financially sponsored and supported by eThekwini
Arts and Living Culture but it’s happened that the event was independent helped
by an individual. Money that was donated provided prizes to the competitors
including trophies and certificate and also payment to our judges,” explains
Makanya.
“This event could not have operated without
the help of the many volunteered teachers who gave their Saturday to help run
and look after the learners. This Festival took over 20 volunteers and KMSDT to
make the activities of the day run successfully with the proper help that each
activity needed. I'd like to give a special thanks to Scelulwazi Primary School
who come in numbers to support their performers and to the many individuals
along with our beautiful judges who gave their support. Again, thank you to all
parents who came to support their children; I truly appreciate your time and
assistance!” he adds.
Among the winners were: Melokuhle Zondi
(Promising female dancer in Primary schools); Samkelisiwe Msomi from JG Zuma
High School and Sinenhlanhla M from Nqabakazulu High School (Promising dancers
in High schools); Outstanding Performances Ekuthuleni Primary School; Quarry
Height School; Scelulwazi Primary School; Riverdene High School; Nqabakazulu High
School; Umtapo High School, and Nqabakazulu High School. The Eric Shabalala
Floating Trophy went to Umtapo High School.
For more information visit
https://theatre4youth.co.za/theatre/kwamashu-school-of-dance-theatre/
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