JAZZART EMBODIES MOVEMENT

JAZZART EMBODIES MOVEMENT 

Safiso Kweyama is the Artist director of Jazzart Dance Theatre at the Artscape in Cape Town. Jazzart's creative process is an emodiment of a movement langauge based on improvisation and provides inventive platform for world class performances that reflect the changing socio-political environment of South Africa and the world.

Safiso is originally from Durban. He left Jazzart to freelance and returned as an artistic director of the place since 2015. The company is 44-years-old, it all started back in 1973 by a lady called Sonje Mayo, and has had five different directors after that. The company's main purpose is to train young artist, to become dancers, professional choreographers and teachers in various art skills. They currently have a training program with 13 students mainly from the Western Cape, but some of them come from the Eastern Cape and others come all the way from Wellington and George. They all meet at the Artscape where it based.

The main genre they work with is contemporary dance, which Safiso calls african dnace, but they teach their youth different styles. Twice a week they'll have ballet classes, hip hop class are provided, african dance, pansula, jazz dance and also traditional african dance. The duration of the  training program is 3 years, Monday-Friday from 9h00-17h00. They have a couple of sponsors the, The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, The Lotto, HCI and The National Arts Council.

The next auditions will take place next year September/October and then January 2019 they will start training. The current trainees will be graduating next year July. The auditions happens over a period of 3 days in which the individual must attend everyday. The student must have matric. They look at various things like your punctuality, when they say take a break, do you really take a break or go over the movements in which you're struggling with.and the different discipline that they've taught you. If you are able to do contemporary dance can you do ballet or hip hop. If you are weak at a certain genre, it is ok, they will work on the other genre with you and help you to improve so that you are able to get jobs in everything. In the end they have a show where the dances get to perform and showcase what they've learnt.

His goal is to see his current trainees to end the program well skilled, having the body well oiled and ready for the outside world, so that can economically sustain themselves. For 2018 he would like to shift the focus from theme which was remembrance. Remembrance of the history people that surpassed Jazzart and remembering the women. The focus will be on recycling and reusing, it is part of saving. He is looking at reusing old costumes and not buying new ones.

From next year they will have open classes which will take place on Saturdays and also evening classes for adults. Classes on Saturdays will range from the ages of 7-15. 'If you think you can walk then you can dance" says Safiso. It all starts with a heart beat.

Contact Details

Tel: 0214109848
Website: www.jazzart.co.za

Presenters and Producers: Khusi Veto, Michaela Muller and Tyler Layman


By: Michaela Muller