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Monday, May 6, 2019

FUNK 2019


The 20 Year Celebration of Funk takes place on May 17, 18, 20, 21 and 22, 2019, in Pietermaritzburg.

Funk continues to generate tremendous excitement and now celebrates 20 years as a firm favourite on the annual school production calendar!

Funk evolved as an idea to create a dance programme for schools with very specific aims. Firstly, to unite schools in working towards a common goal; secondly to give Drama students and their teachers the opportunity to create and rehearse pieces of dance theatre for public performance; thirdly, to enable young people to see that movement, dance and dance theatre is accessible to them and not only in the hands of professional adult dance companies; and finally - and perhaps most importantly of all - to generate meaning and artistic integrity through dance choreography whilst challenging young people to work outside of their comfort zones.

The task for each school remains constant: to create a six-minute piece of dance choreography integrating any type of musical or textual accompaniment. The programme accommodates a range of choreographic and performance possibilities and provides the perfect opportunity for schools to experiment with new forms. It is also important to emphasise that this platform is not a competition, and should not be seen in the same light as a sports festival or inter-house competition.

The highlight of the production is always the mass group Finale which incorporates all the schools together on the stage. This year the Finale will be a retrospective of music and choreography from 20 years of FUNK Finales, created by Joslyn Anderson and Anton Immelman.

Funk 2019 is produced by The Theatre–St Anne’s Diocesan College, and directed by Lynn Chemaly.

Participating schools are Carter, Epworth, GHS, Hilton College, Howick High School, Maritzburg College, Russell, St Anne’s Diocesan College, St John’s DSG, St Nicholas, TWC and Voortrekker.

Funk 2019 takes place on May 17, 18, 20, 21 and 22, 2019, at 19h30 at the Hexagon Theatre on the University of KZN, Pietermaritzburg. Tickets R75 booked through hexagon@ukzn.ac.za or on 033 260 5537.