Douglas Griffiths and Simone Muller-Lotz, photo courtesy Baxter Dance Festival.

Now in its ninth year, the Baxter Dance Festival will take place from 3 to 12 October 2013, showcasing the dynamic and diverse dance talent from Cape Town and across the Western Cape.

The festival organisers are calling for entries from dance studios, schools, companies, groups and independent dance-makers, as well as proposals from choreographers for a specially commissioned new 20-minute choreographic dance piece.

The closing date for applications to participate in this year’s event is Friday, 21 June, at 5pm and choreographers are strongly encouraged to submit their submissions as early as possible.

Proposals for the commissioned dance piece are to be submitted by no later than Tuesday, 18 June, and should include a DVD of recent work.

Must-see festival on Cape Town’s dance event calendar

Since its inception, over 300 local choreographers have presented their work in the festival, featuring over 1000 dancers from about 150 studios, dance schools, projects and professional companies from all over the Western Cape, presenting a wide variety of dance styles and genres including contemporary, classical, African, modern and Spanish.

Grant van Ster and Louisa Ann Talbot, photo courtesy Baxter Dance Festival.

“The growth of the festival has been extremely encouraging,” says Nicolette Moses, the Baxter’s Associate Producer and project manager of the dance festival. “The Off Main programme creates further opportunity for local dance groups and choreographers, and ensures an exciting, diverse and jam-packed line-up.”

The Main Programme will feature works of various lengths by established professional companies, including the newly commissioned work, and by invited companies, while the Off Main Programme, which takes place on Saturday, 5 October, will showcase work by up-and-coming choreographers, including student work.

The Fringe Programme on Saturday, 12 October, will include work by youth groups, dance studios, school groups, traditional dance groups and other choreographers who specifically request that their work be staged here for practical or other reasons.

Previous choreographers of the commissioned work are Ebrahim Medell (2005), Marlin Zoutman (2006), collaborators Yarisha Singh and Celeste Botha (2007), Levern Botha (2008), Mamela Nyamza (2009), Carolyn Holden from La Rosa Spanish Dance Theatre (2010), Grant van Ster (2011) and Ananda Fuchs (2012). All these choreographers have continued to make their mark in the world of dance, both locally and abroad.

Application details:

Application forms are available from www.baxter.co.za or the Baxter’s reception desk in the main foyer. Forms may also be obtained from and should be sent to Nicolette Moses, Associate Producer and Planning Manager, on 021 680 3964 or email nicolette.moses@uct.ac.za. Alternatively, they can be hand-delivered to the Baxter Theatre Centre, Main Road, Rondebosch, marked clearly for her attention.

Deadlines:

• Friday, 21 June 2013, for applications to participate in the festival programme.
• Tuesday, 18 June 2013, for proposals for the commissioned dance piece (should include a DVD of recent work).
• No late entries will be considered.

The Baxter Theatre Centre will provide a comprehensive production package which includes lighting, sound, technical assistance, publicity, box office facilities, printed programmes and pre-show rehearsal arrangements, making it a hassle-free experience for participating dance groups and companies.

Set to over 20 of Elvis’ greatest hits, Sean Bovim has Cape Town audiences all shook up with his latest ballet creation. It’s only on at the Artscape Theatre until 7 April 2013, so get your tickets and read more about it here.

Action Satisfaction

While seeing all these blue suede (and shiny pointe) shoes, I’m certainly feeling blue that I couldn’t be in Cape Town to see the dance action first-hand, but at least we get to enjoy it in freeze-frame…

Click on an image to open the gallery.