The 13th annual Baxter Dance Festival is back to wow audiences with more than 64 new pieces by 73 choreographers over a period of eight days.
This year opens with two performances by the acclaimed Moving Into Dance Mophatong (MID) from Johannesburg on Thursday, October 5 and Frida,y October 6 at 8pm.
As one of the first mixed-race dance companies, MID has become a leading contemporary African dance company, at the forefront of Afrofusion and edudance styles.
MID has become internationally recognised as a significant developmental organisation and professional dance company with international acclaim.
Headlining this year’s festival is the commissioned work by choreographer, dancer and teacher Themba Mbuli of the acclaimed Sold! and Adagio For A Hacked Life.
Among the list of dance companies showcasing their work at the Baxter Dance Festival this year are companies such as Cape Dance Company, Dance For All, Eoan Group School of The Performing Arts, JazzArt Dance Theatre, the Kirvan Fortuin Company, La Rosa, New World Dance Theatre and Taare.
The main programme includes invited and commissioned works, as well as work by recognised professional choreographers and companies and runs for the entire festival.
The Off-Main Programme, on Saturday, October 7, will showcase the work by up-and-coming choreographers (including student work), and the Fringe Programme on Saturday, October 15, will include work by youth groups, dance schools, school groups, traditional dance groups and others.
Each year the Baxter invites dance makers to apply for the commissioned work. This year the Baxter has shaken things up by inviting individual dancers to audition to be part of the commissioned work with Mbuli.
Mbuli is the 2016 Standard Bank Young Award recipient and has been performing for 17 years, graduating with a certificate in performing arts in 2017.
He is also a co-founder and the choreographer and artistic director of the Unmute Dance Company, which was formed in 2014 to help pioneer integrated dance in South Africa, using the arts to inspire the inclusion of people with disabilities in society.
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), Ananda Fuchs (2012), Steven van Wyk and Thalia Laric in 2014 and Louise Coetzer of Darkroom Contemporary in 2016.
These choreographers have continued to excel in and influence the world of dance, both locally and abroad.
As the premier dance event of its kind in the Western Cape, the Baxter Dance Festival has become a must-see platform for studios, companies, choreographers and dance-enthusiasts.
Notwithstanding its limited funding, the festival continues to grow significantly each year, making it the ideal festival to experience the diversity and enormous dance talent in the province.
This year the line-up is set to thrill and entertain any dance lover or enthusiast, with a wide variety of genres and styles.
The Baxter Dance Festival aims to create opportunities for emergent and recognised dance companies and choreographers to present their work, while nurturing and promoting the diverse dance talent in the Western Cape.
“We continue to be blown away by the ongoing support and encouragement we received from local dance communities in the city, province and beyond,” said Nicolette Moses, artistic director of the Baxter Dance Festival and associate producer and planning manager at the Baxter Theatre Centre.
The full programme may be viewed online at www.baxter.co.za or on facebook.com/Baxter Theatre.
Booking is through Computicket on 08619158000, 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 0216803962 or e-mail [email protected] or Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993 or e-mail her at [email protected]