Introducing talent to the creative economy As part of its social missions, Vuyani Dance Theatre works within communities to develop dance talent, both at a school level and by training post-matric youth through its sought-after year-long inhouse dance training programme.
V
uyani Dance Theatre’s (VDT) training programme
allowed me to tell a story of how we communicate through
provides intense training in dance movement and
arts, heal through arts and subsequently live and breathe art.
choreography skills and is a platform for VDT to
The one thing I can share about VDT’s training programme
plough back resources into the exposure of latent
is that you learn to be an independent artist while in a
young talent. The training programme explores the synergies between the mind, body and artist over eleven months
nurtured team environment.’ Thabang Mojapelo also contributed to the
annually, challenging the preconceived notions that trainees
conversation, commenting: ‘The training programme
might have through a breakdown of body mechanics, intense
has allowed me to meet myself as an artist from another
technical study and rigorous conditioning exercises. By the
viewpoint. It has challenged me emotionally, physically
end of the year, trainees shed old habits and ideas that no
and spiritually and I have found strength and resilience to
longer serve them in order to create space for their true voice
face the constructive feedback that we receive throughout
and expression as artists.
the year. Right at the beginning of the training
The class of 2018 was part of an accelerated growth plan and the majority of the class was cast in a full-company touring production choreographed and directed by Gregory Maqoma – Cion: Requiem of Ravel’s Bolero. This cast was part of the performance at the 2018 Sibiu International Theatre Festival in Sibiu, Romania, as well as the South African tour to Artscape Theatre and the Vrystaat Kunstefees, and will continue to tour to other international festivals scheduled for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. With the year coming to an end, we caught up with trainees and asked them about their experience as a part of the VDT training programme.
“The VDT training programme has not just taught me about movement but has laid a foundation for my career as an emerging dance professional”
Lungile Mahlangu says, ‘The VDT training programme has not just taught me about movement but has laid a foundation for my career as an emerging dance professional. I have learnt how to conduct myself as an artist, how to
programme, I was a part of Gregory Maqoma’s work
work with others, and how to work through an intense
Mayhem, which was staged at Dance Umbrella. During
performance schedule. Before joining Vuyani, I was always
this process, my dance vocabulary immediately began to
in awe of the company’s cocktail aesthetic and I instinctively
broaden and I was fortunate enough to be part of very
knew that this is where I need to align myself as a young
different company performances.’
dancer. Today I am living that dance cocktail. As part of our performance assessment, I created a solo, Thou Art, which
70 / Creative Feel / December 2018 / January 2019
‘Today, I can proudly pat myself on the back and call myself a dancer, not just a street dancer as I was before
