DanceArt travels to South Africa

IETM member and representative of DanceArt-Performance Network, Lutz Mauk has invited the artistic director of Jungle Theatre Company (JTC), Vincent Meyburgh from Cape Town, to be his IETM guest this year. Lutz and Vincent have been talking about visiting South Africa and at the same time touring with JTC. 

They have decided to work together to bring theatre to South African children and families in rural communities that don’t get opportunities to have these experiences. 

Lutz was inspired to tour with two different JTC productions to the Western and Eastern Cape in South Africa during February and March 2022. Lutz and his college have raised the funds in Germany to finance the costs of the 8 professional artists and the logistics of the tour. He and his college will also be offering a dance/theatre workshop for a group of special needs children in Cape Town.

JTC would like to thank Lutz Mauk and his college at DanceArt-Performance Network for his initiative and actions towards fundraising and looks forward to incorporating his qualifications towards community dance.  JTC trusts that it will be an enriching experiment for Lutz and his colleague.  www.danceart-performance.de

JTC also looks forward to an enriching experience of their beautiful country’s natural and cultural wealth and the expressions of joy, laughter and learning on the children’s faces. JTC would also like to encourage further support from artistic patrons who are invited to donate https://jungletheatre.co.za/donate/ towards their work. Alternatively, JTC may be contacted about collaborations and cultural experiences. info@jungletheatre.co.za

Children in the rural areas of South Africa have very few opportunities and attend under resourced schools in communities plagued by drought and poverty. The local heritage of music and storytelling does not get much support and they are struggling with literacy. The culture of storytelling, and oral traditions are not adequately nurtured. The value of their natural surroundings is often overlooked. They generally aspire to be in the big cities. The school’s curriculum does not offer the children much in terms of the indigenous languages of the Khoi and San people. This culture has been marginalized throughout the history of South Africa until the present day. 

JTC works with African folktales and turns them into modern productions for children. They build awareness of local culture and provide education. Using dance, music puppets and storytelling in African languages the children become aware of the value of indigenous culture and natural heritage. They laugh, sing, have fun and learn. The performances are followed by workshops which give the children and opportunity to express themselves with in the context of the story. 

The first production called Mantis and the Bee (https://youtu.be/BBDWr2etpGg) will tour to a festival in the Western Cape around the Citrusdal area which is 200km from Cape Town.

The settlements are around the beautiful mountains of the Cederberg conservation area which protects wildlife including the rare Cape Leopard. The towns are near the Oliphants river. The production will tour to the Wolfe festival which takes place on the banks of the river. Families are invited to participate in cultural activities as well as enjoy swimming and water sports. The play is based on a Xam or San legend. One of the cast members, Gershan Lombard, is from this area and will be arranging the performances with his connections in the schools and communities. The tour will give him an opportunity to share his artistic accomplishment with the community he comes from. 

The next tour will be to the Garden route some 600km from Cape Town. We will be touring the production called Dassie’s Tale 
https://youtu.be/qF0nYW5Ods8 

It is a folktale told to the artists when they were children. JTC’s sister company Lunchbox Theatre will be arranging the performances with their connections in the community. Once again, the performances are followed by workshops. The children will also receive illustrated books based on the production in their mother tongue. This builds literacy and pride in local heritage.