SA Mzansi Ballet launches new dance competition open to all ballet and dance groups
Photo by Photoloni via Flickr
What started as a clever marketing initiative to attract new audiences to the ballet, has now evolved into an exciting competition for ballet studios and dance groups.
South African Mzansi Ballet (SAMB) has taken their good idea – of allowing select studios to perform during their Don Quixote intervals – and created an even better initiative by creating a competition open to all ballet and dance groups in Gauteng, with various prizes and dance opportunities awarded to the winners.
The Just Dance! competition will take place during the September performances of SAMB’s new production of the classical ballet, Cinderella, at the Joburg Theatre between 13 and 29 September. Studios and groups will compete for prizes awarded in recognition of a combination of entertainment values and technical accomplishment. The competition is open to dancers across all dance techniques.
Prizes and dance opportunities:
A wide range of awards will be presented, with awards going to the winning groups as well as specific awards to individual participants for which all will be eligible, not just the dancers in the finalist groups. In addition to the cash awards and other prizes, performing opportunities will be awarded by the judges.
Entrants will also receive discounted tickets to SAMB’s new production of the classical ballet, Cinderella. The judging panel will feature well-known personalities from the dance and entertainment field and the judges will be looking for a “wow!” factor and dance that combines entertainment with solid technique.
SAMB dancers Claudia Monja and Nelson Nunez. Photo by Susanne Holbaek courtesy of SAMB.
Competition and application details:
The closing date for applications is Friday 2 August 2013, after which auditions will be held at the Joburg Theatre and, facilitated by SAMB’s Development Programme, also in Soweto, Mamelodi, Olifantsfontein and Alexandra to choose the competing groups who will perform at the Joburg Theatre in September.
Competing groups must commit to performing in the preliminary rounds as well as in the finals and performing in both rounds is a condition of participation. Semi-finals will take place in the SAMB studios at the Joburg Theatre.
Groups must comprise of five or more dancers; all dance styles are welcome and each work may be no longer than 4 minutes. No sets or props will be allowed and basic stage lighting will be provided onstage.
Three selected groups will perform at each Cinderella performance, either before the show or during the interval. Six semi-finalist groups will be selected to perform at the final performance of Cinderella and the winners will be announced after that performance. On the final day of the programme, Sunday 29 September at 11am, all groups that participated in the programme will re-assemble for a performance featuring all groups; and later that same day the finalists will perform in the intervals of the season’s final Cinderella performance.
For more information or for an application form please call Edgar Moagi on 011 877 6898 or email him on edgar@samzansiballet.com.
Category: Dance News
