The opening performances
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.
The Baxter Dance Festival includes a host of dynamic works by choreographers from various 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, set to take place from 6-15 October at 8pm, 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 10-15 October.
Previous choreographers of the commissioned work are, amongst others, Carolyn Holden from La Rosa Spanish Dance Theatre (2010), Grant van Ster (2011), Ananda Fuchs (2012) and Steven van Wyk and Thalia Laric (2014) - there was no commissioned works in 2013 and 2015. All these choreographers have continued to make their mark in the world of dance, both locally and abroad.
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.
The festival offers visitors an opportunity to experience and see work by established professionals, as well as exciting up-and-coming practitioners. Furthermore, it provides emerging and established dance companies and choreographers with an opportunity to present their work, whilst striving to nurture and promote the diverse dance talent in the Western Cape.
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 R250.
Booking for the 2016 Baxter Dance Festival is through Computicket on 0861 915 8000, online at www.computicket.co.za or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet. For discounted school or group block bookings, fundraisers or charities contact Sharon Ward on 021 680 3962 or email az.ca.tcu@draw.norahs or Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993 or email her at az.ca.tcu@snraek.nemrac.
Festival sponsors and partners include Tsogo Sun, National Arts Council and Stellar Winery.
The full programme may be viewed online at www.baxter.co.za or on www.facebook.com/baxtertheatre.
