The 2016 Baxter Dance Festival opens with the 40th anniversary revival of Alfred Hinkel’s acclaimed Bolero and John Linden’s Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking, in a programme that showcases 65 works over 10 days, this October.
With 65 choreographic works on this year’s line-up, the 2016 Baxter Dance Festival is poised to excite and entertain any dance lover or enthusiast, with a wide variety of genres and styles, at the Baxter Theatre from 6 to 15 October.
The 12th annual festival opens with two performances only, which celebrate the 40th anniversary revival of Alfred Hinkel’s classic Bolero and John Linden’s Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking, on 6 and 7 October at 8pm. Hinkel’s Bolero received critical acclaim over the years and has featured dancers such as Dawn Langdon, John Linden, Jay Pather, Sifiso Kweyama, Heinrich Reisenhofer, Balu Searle, Ananda Fuchs and Sbonakaliso Ndana to mention just a few. This latest revival will be presented by Garage Dance Ensemble with guest performers Levern Botha and Ciara Barron.
Independent dance-makers, choreographers, dancers and teachers, will descend on the Baxter for 10 days to present a diverse and dynamic line-up, guaranteed to suit all tastes which range from contemporary, modern and classical to flamenco, tap and traditional dance forms.
One of the innovations this year is the newly introduced Special Package which allows audiences access to seven different performances on the Main Programme for just R250.
The Baxter Dance Festival continues its success of showcasing some of the best in local dance and also includes a host of dynamic works by choreographers from other regions and countries such as Okiep in Namaqualand (Alfred Hinkel, John Linden, Byron Klaasen), Johannesburg (Luyanda Sidiya), Canada (Josh Beamish) and Namibia (Hamish Olivier).
The Main Programme takes place from 6 to 15 October at 8pm, and will feature over 30 works of various lengths, by established professionals, including choreographers such as Abeedah Medell, Allison Hendricks, Bonwa Mbontsi, Ashleigh Joubert, Tegan Peacock, Celeste Botha, Marlon Zoutman, Ciara Baldwin, Nathan Bartman, Grace Barnes, Kitty Phelta, Kristy Brown, Landa de Jager, Leticia Fisher, Michelle Reid, Mthuthuzeli November, Mziyanda Mancam, Paul Johnson, Simone Marshall, Thami Njoko, Zethu Mtati, Grant van Ster, Shaun Oelf, Kirvan Fortuin, Saskia Wicomb, Sbonakaliso Ndaba, Lindy Raizenberg, Nadine Buys, Phindile Kula, Sifiso Kweyama, Bruno Wani, Ebrahim Medell, Thalia Laric, Kristina Johnstone, Iesu Escalante and Mishkaah Medell.
The Off Main programme, which takes place on Saturday, 8 October at 5pm, will showcase 17 different works by up-and-coming choreographers (including student choreography) while the Fringe programme on Saturday, 15 October at 2pm will include 19 works by youth groups, dance studios, school groups and traditional dance groups.
Louise Coetzer’s In C is the 2016 commissioned piece performed by Darkroom Contemporary, in collaboration with music duo Without Eyes and can be seen on the Main Programme from 10 to 15 October.
This year marks the first time that Cape Town City Ballet and well-known choreographer Lindy Raizenberg will be on the programme. Other highlights include a work by the late Phyllis Spira (performed by Dance For All) and Mthuthuzeli November who recently joined Ballet Black in the UK.
“It is very rewarding to receive the support and encouragement of the local dance communities in this city, province and beyond. This is evident in the number of participants each year. We are deeply grateful to our partners and sponsors who I wish to honour for their assistance in making this festival possible – Tsogo Sun, National Arts Council and Stellar Winery”, says Nicolette Moses, artistic director of the Baxter Dance Festival and associate producer and planning manager at the Baxter Theatre Centre.
“The festival has helped to shape the lives of aspiring dancers and choreographers, which have, in turn, impacted the local dance landscape positively. I truly hope that this will encourage other sponsors in the private or government sectors to partner with us and become part of the largest dance event in our city.”
WHAT & WHERE: 2016 Baxter Dance Festival, Baxter Theatre Centre, Main Rd, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7700
BOOKINGS: Computicket on 0861 915 8000, online or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet. For discounted school or group block bookings, fundraisers or charities contact Sharon Ward on 021 680 3962 or E sharon.ward@uct.ac.za or Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993 or E carmen.kearns@uct.ac.za.
The full programme may be viewed online or on fb.
PHOTO: Mbulelo Ngubombini – Photo Oscar O’Ryan
