FROM hip hop to contemporary, street and break dancing, dance lovers can expect the city to heat up over the next few weeks as the Durban Dance Movement Festival (DDMF) returns to our stages.
Inspired by the Wentworth Youth Festival, over the years the event has culminated into the DDMF which is a platform for groups and dance communities around KZN that don’t have an opportunity to present their work to an audience.
DDMF showcases professional dancers, studios, community groups, street groups, youth groups and community performances from varied dance styles.
Tonight caught up with dancer and choreographer, Jarryd Watson, who is hosting the second annual dance fest at the Catalina Theatre.
Watson recently won the Ubuntu award at the KZN Dancelink Durban awards for the most developments in dance in KZN.
Sharing the concept behind the fest, he says: “Basically, it’s a platform that celebrates the best of dance in Durban and features classic, hip hop, contemporary, ballet and so on. It showcases KZN’s diversity and all our different cultures through dance. It also promotes dance in Durban and gives dancers a platform for exposure.”
Watson says it will be a unique experience for all those who attend: “We’ve got some exciting stuff on stage with the dancers performing to popular hits and using props. For instance, with fire from Blue Fire productions and dancing with sand as a prop and the use of storytelling and poetry while dancers perform on stage. So it’s about how dance can be showcased through different ways. That’s where the diversity comes in, it’s so dynamic and different.”
The three-day fest will include an array of performances by dancers of all levels. According to Watson, this is the defining factor which makes the fest different from other dance events in Durban: “It gives every single group and every dancer the opportunity to showcase their work. You get other fests that only allow professional levels to enter. This allows amateurs, disadvantaged groups and the youth to be on stage. It doesn’t matter what experience you have, that’s how we broke it into different showcases and it’s open to all criterias. Everyone can have the opportunity despite what level they are on in terms of dance. Also, this festival is unique because it represents 20 years of democracy and showcases the development of our country’s growth.”
Regarding the dance skills development workshop, the director says it is offered to any dancer who would like to upgrade their skills in contemporary, break dancing, hip hop and tap: “The festival will also showcase professional works from training companies and groups like Dance Movement, 031 Floor Assassins, Rhythmic Dance, The Studio, Chizboyz Productions, Kwamashu School of Dance and Blue Fire Productions to hopefully give birth to funding more dance companies in Durban. The workshop has the best of choreographers. We decided to come in together and host the workshop to allow the dancers to gain experience and development of skills to take on the industry professionals.”
It features choreographers Casey Swales who will conduct the contemporary dance workshop; Watson on hip hop dance workshop; Preston “Kayzo” Kyd conducting a break dancing workshop and Lynn Totham for tap classes.
Asked about the biggest challenges for dance and theatre in Durban, Watson says it all comes down to funding: “And the minimal support from our supporters who should be supporting us. We’ve been overseas three times and not once has the government supported us.”
On the plus side, his greatest highlight of directing a fest such as this one is bringing Durban and KZN together: “And for me, it’s bringing all the different dances together and celebrating our work. It’s also about getting an opportunity to share our skills, coming together and showcasing our work on a platform for people to appreciate what we do as dancers,” he shares.
• Don’t miss the DDMF from November 28 to 30 at the Catalina Theatre, Wilson Wharf. R100 at Computicket. Call 082 683 9665.