New officials elected to lead Theatre And Dance Alliance
By Edward Tsumele
One of the prominent and active arts organizations formed during the height of Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 has elected new officials to lead the organisation for the next two years.
Theatre and Dance Alliance (TADA) was formed in 2020, just like several other arts organizations made up of artists from the various sectors of the arts, in a bid to unite and speak with one voice about issues affecting them, particularly during uncertain times such as the present times of the global pandemic. The creative sector has leant through the hard experiences of Covid-19 that as united they are better prepared, especially when it comes to responding to the sticking issue of lobbying government for assistance through availing resources to the sector to meet some of their current challenges.
“The Theatre and Dance Alliance (TADA), a coalition of organisations, institutions, festivals and companies that operate, and individuals who make a significant part of their livelihoods within the South African theatre and dance sector, has elected a new National Steering Committee that will serve for two years till March 2024.
The new members of this National Steering Committee are: Chairperson: Lesego van Niekerk Deputy Chairperson: Cornelia Faasen National Officials: Blessing Xaba, Iain Robinson, Jackie Rens, Jaco van Rensburg, Lindiwe Letwaba, Mthokozisi Zulu, Sylvaine Strike and Thobile Maphanga. Provincial Representatives: Jacques Batista (Eastern Cape), Zinhle Nzama (KwaZulu Natal), Nadia Virasamy (Gauteng), Moe Mashianoke (Mpumalanga) and Sue Diepeveen (Western Cape). Free State still need to elect a representative and Limpopo, North West and Northern Cape will be represented by interim members until they reach the constitutional minimum requirement of 15 members to elect a representative,” TADA said in a media statement this week, released on Thursday, March 24, 2022.
Representatives of National Organisations include: ASSITEJ: Klara van Rooyen and Masixole Heshu Personnel Managers Association (PMA): Sam de Romijn and Tarryn Edwards; South African Dance Alliance (SADA): Lee-Sophia Piedt, and Mbulelo Ndabeni and South African Guild of Actors (SAGA): Carlynn de Waal-Smit and Hungani Ndlovu. With TADA’s inaugural National Steering Committee ending its tenure and the organisation approaching its first anniversary, newly elected TADA Chairperson, Lesego van Niekerk had this to say:
“With TADA approaching its first anniversary, we also see the dawn of a new era in the form of a newly elected leadership. With only one year of existence, TADA has made a magnificent impact in our sector. This is a great start to what I believe will be years of unprecedented advocacy within our sector. A huge thanks must be extended to the outgoing National Steering Committee who have committed their time and effort to bringing TADA to this point. This NSC was under the graceful leadership of Lindiwe Letwaba who deserves all the accolades for leading this organisation through its first year of existence. We commend you all for your selflessness over the last year. My greatest wish for the incoming NSC is that they carry the baton on from where the current NSC has left it, that we move with passion and compassion, and that we focus on the end goal, advocating for a better sector for all.”
According to its Constitution, the purpose of the Theatre and Dance Alliance is to advance and defend the interests of the theatre and dance sector as a whole and of the individuals active within it and with the new National Steering Committee having its first meeting on Tuesday 5 April from 17:30 to 19:30, the next two years in advocating for the theatre and dance sector begins with fresh eyes and fresh minds that are ready to do just that.