Fabulous Fringe at Digital JOMBA!

By CityLife Arts Writer

An ‘open to application’ platform for the 22nd (Digital) JOMBA Contemporary Dance Experience (25 Aug – 6 Sept), has provided an opportunity for 17 dance-makers from Africa to present their digital/dance film work on Monday, 31 August at 7pm.

A total of 17 digital submissions were made to the festival, and 8 works were selected to screen by a panel of expert adjudicators:  David April a director, teacher, choreographer, and lobbyist in the realm of South African dance and performance, based in Gauteng; Tiny Mungwe – a South African film/TV producer and festival programmer based in Cape Town; Smangaliso Ngwenya a dancer, performer, writer, choreographer, videographer and editor based in Gauteng and Clare Craighead (JOMBA! Fringe facilitator) a Drama Studies lecturer at DUT, a dance writer and academic with a keen interest in arts on a digital platform. 

 Dance-makers who have submitted in this exciting line-up of new work include Julie Veronirina Iarisoa (Madagascar), Adebajo Oluwefemi Isreal (Nigeria) Uche A. Onah (Nigeria), Robert Ssempijja (Uganda), and from South Africa David Mahlaba & Phinda-Mzala Entertainment Project, Jena Woodroffe, Lungelo Khathini, Nkosinathi Blessing Khumalo, Phumlani Life Mndebele, Rhia Ryan, Sabelo Cele, Sbonelo Bhengu, Sifiso E. Kweyama, Pavishen Paideya, Kaldi Makutike, Sphakeme Shangase, and JC Zondi.

 The adjudicators will award cash prizes of R2000, R1500, and R1000 to the works that they deemed to be insightfully and creatively choreographed and made using film as the medium.

 “I was amazed to see the level of creativity and ingenuity from so many choreographers who have used this lock down time to make the transition from stage to screen – this is no easy thing!” said adjudicator David April.

 The three winning films will be announced after the screening on 31 August and will be available for further viewing on the website until the end of the festival.

 JOMBA! is presented by the Centre for Creative Arts, University of Kwazulu-Natal  and features an array of dance-works, free and online on the website (jomba.ukzn.ac.za) from 25 August to 6 September.

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