(Left: Iqraam
Rahim)
Ever onwards and upwards… Durban’s
innovative Rampage Dance Company, spearheaded by dance-maker Iqraam Rahim, is
once again pushing the boundaries, in a bid to highlight the value that Dance
brings to society.
“October is Mental Health Awareness Month,”
says Rahim. “It’s the perfect time to reinforce our dance philosophy ‘ikigai’,
which translates as ‘reason for being’ or ‘source of value’. Durban Dance
Alliance’s Reimagining Dance initiative - a collaboration that threads together
Eastern, Western and African dance perspectives - has been working on
revaluating the value of dance.”
Rahim notes that with the economy being
what it is, it becomes increasingly more
difficult to communicate the value of dance. “As with Language, Dance has a
relevance to its time. Having recently celebrated Heritage Day, we were once
again reminded that Eastern and African dance perspectives are rooted in rich
culture, and have a value far beyond the superficial veneer of mass-produced
dance.
Rampage Students have embarked on a journey
to tackle a moderated dance exam, in an attempt to introduce an alternative
dance methodology to the current dance structures being used by educational
institutions. In the run-up to the exam, Durban has seen a spike in dance
interest. Students were put to the test in a process which began with a
controversial debate - is Dance an art,
or a sport?
(Right: Kashmir
Pattundeen)
As part of exam season, students, parents
and industry leaders gathered to evaluate where the industry stands, and to
plan a way forward. Internal moderators, Shivani Singh, Kashmir Pattundeen, and
Yuthika Nagessur are assessing the standard of dance within the classroom, and
measuring the results of students and faculty members. Their criteria include
reaction time, communication, and participation; and also focus on predominant
social issues, such as the burning of the Rainforest, gender-based violence,
feminism, and toxic masculinity.
Rampage Students also worked with external
moderators - leading choreographers, Musa Hlatshwayo and Angela Smith. Hlatshwayo
emphasized the importance of dancers understanding their individual range of
motion. In this process, developing dancers were taught to create choreography
and communicate the art to their peers.
Angela Smith worked with students within
the framework of modern contemporary dance. The emphasis shifted from creating
and teaching movement to learning controlled movement with a specific output.
Students were tested on dance genres outside of their comfort zone, instilling
diversity and inclusivity.
(Left: Yuthika
Nagessur)
“Dance as a language operates outside the
confines of political correctness,“ adds Rahim. “In pioneering change and
reimagining dance, we are focusing on the topical concept of ‘new audience’. Nina Atkinson, owner of the
UK’s Loop Dance Company, is doing groundbreaking research on new audiences. She
joins the faculty to examine the students’ perspective of new audience. Our
other international moderator is from India – Vaishali Sagar, owner of Vaishali
Klanjay.”
Maya Jagijivan, Safiyya Adams and Sameer
Mohamed complete the exam faculty, focusing on
public speaking, the ability to work in front of Cameras, and the
creative flair of costume design.
Throughout the year, students have performed in large scale
venues, including The Playhouse Company, but were also required to perform in
unusual sites – such as the Blythdale Adventure Market and cultural specific
work supported by the South African Indian Heritage Foundation. The students
have raised over R100,000 for various charitable causes, and a portion of this
has been set aside to allow members of the public to view their work free of
charge.
These free performances take place around
Durban, including October 12 at The Playhouse Company and October 13 at the
Pattendeen Theatre Chatsworth. To find a free performance near you, contact 071
237 2900.
Posts
