(Adrienne
Sichel. Pic by Val Adamson)
The Ar(t)chive, South Africa’s
award-winning theatre dance and physical performance archive, launches a
ground-breaking new publication: Body
Politics: Fingerprinting South African Contemporary Dance by pioneering
veteran dance writer Adrienne Sichel at this year’s 20th JOMBA! Contemporary
Dance Experience in Durban on September 4, and at the Market Theatre,
Johannesburg on September 29.
Sichel has over the past 40 years,
painstakingly documented in her journalistic writing, and critiques the
changing landscape of contemporary dance in South Africa pre and post
democracy. Her contribution to the dance industry has earned her the respect of
both the national and international dance community.
Body
Politics: Fingerprinting South African Contemporary Dance is a blend of Sichel’s journalistic writing and experience combined
with a vast collection of research material on the evolution of contemporary
dance in South Africa. This fingerprinting exercise connects some of the dots
of how a very valuable, even unique, heritage, has taken shape.
Featured in this one-of-a-kind book are
artists, companies and festivals which include early pioneers and contemporary
players such as: Sylvia Glasser, Tossie van Tonder, Carly Dibakoane, Robyn
Orlin, Alfred Hinkel, Jay Pather, Debbie Rakusin, Jackie Mbuyiselwa Semela,
Jayespri Moopen, Boyzie Ntsikelelo Cekwana, Vincent Sekwati Koko Mantsoe,
Gregory Maqoma, Lliane Loots, Nelisiwe Xaba, PJ Sabbagha, Jeannette Ginslov,
Dada Masilo, Mamela Nyamza, Fana Tshabalala, Jazzart Dance Theatre, Moving into
Dance Mophatong, The First Physical Theatre Company, The Forgotten Angle
Theatre Collaborative, Flatfoot Dance Company, Via Katlehong Pantsulas, Dance
Umbrella, JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience and The Baxter Dance Festival.
Body
Politics: Fingerprinting South African Contemporary Dance was originally edited by Tammy Ballantyne and Clare Craighead.
The Ar(t)chive in partnership with the
JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience (KZN) and The Market Theatre (JHB),
respectively, presents two launch events for the book.
The regional launch takes place at JOMBA!
on September 4 at 17h30 in the foyer of The Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre (University
of KwaZulu-Natal), and is a free event.
The National Launch takes place at The
Market Theatre in Johannesburg on September 29 at 15h30 for 16h00. This is also
a free event. Space is limited and booking is essential by September 14 to
rsvp@buz.co.za.
Books will be on sale at both events and
cost R400.
The publication was made possible through
the generous support of Business and Arts South Africa (BASA), RMB, Porcupine
Press and Ian Hamilton.
JOMBA! runs until September 9 at various
venues in Durban. For more information, like on Facebook (JOMBA! Contemporary
Dance Experience) and follow on Twitter (Twitter@Jomba_dance).