Sifiso Kweyama’s Jazzart journey has come full circle. The new artistic director oversees three international performance collaborations in September writes DEBBIE HATHWAY
IN THE three months since Sifiso Kweyama was appointed artistic director at Jazzart Dance Theatre, he’s wasted no time in reviving the principles and practices that took the company to the pinnacle of contemporary dance in South Africa during Alfred Hinkel's 24-year leadership.
During the last five years since Hinkel handed over the company to new management there have been few high points. In April 2015, when Kweyama accepted his appointment, the Jazzart studios at Artscape Theatre Centre were virtually void of company dancers and Hinkel's legacy student training cycle had ended. Simply asked to “revive the company”, Kweyama was faced with starting from scratch, with only a small administrative team to assist him.
However, he is rising to the challenge with a few key things in his favour: an extensive history with Jazzart as a dancer, choreographer and artistic-director-in-waiting, massive support from his contemporaries, and money coming into company coffers from successful funding applications.
More than a little overwhelmed at the enthusiasm with which news of his appointment was received, Kweyama quietly set about auditioning aspirant professional dancers for the training programme; directing the hugely successful Azishe! featuring the Cape Flats Development Association (CAFDA), Youth Dance Co 34/18, Dance for All Youth Company, students from Artscape and Sibonelo Creative Residency Workshops, Mbekweni Youth Development Programme, Indoni Dance Arts and Leadership Academy, UCT School of Dance and Jazzart; and getting to grips with the responsibility of steering a new course for this reputed organisation.
He's involved in everything from rebuilding the archives to understanding the financial operation and sourcing costumes from wardrobe when necessary. Kweyama’s can-do attitude, combined with a flexible, innovative and meticulous approach to his work, comes with an endearing humility. One can’t help feeling confident that Jazzart is once again in good hands.
Kweyama was first spotted by Hinkel while a member of Phenduka Dance Theatre in Durban. Kweyama joined Jazzart with fellow Phenduka dancer S'bonakaliso Ndaba in 1992.
“We trained for a year, and then signed a contract, which meant we actually got paid,” he says. “I trained until I left in 2001. That’s the way it used to work. I was exposed to the world through Jazzart – and I discovered my choreographic abilities.” Despite having demonstrated leadership potential during that time, Kweyama's progression with the company did not reach fruition and he moved to Johannesburg where he staged plays, worked for Dance Forum and Moving into Dance – Mophatong, and lectured in African dance, as well as contemporary dance at Tshwane University of Technology and Pretoria University.
Kweyama has been invited to lecture at the University of Southern California and University of South Florida and his creations have been performed in the Middle East, Zimbabwe, Germany, and into Africa. His accolades include being named 2013 Choreographer of the Year by KwaZulu-Natal Dance Link and being voted one of the top 10 South African choreographers by the Mail & Guardian in 2011.
Collaboration is set to be a key theme throughout Kweyama's artistic directorship, from teaching to performance. Hinkel has reciprocated the invitation to Kweyama to conduct workshops with his Dance Garage company members in O'Kiep, Namaqualand, visiting Cape Town recently to conduct master classes with the Jazzart trainees. “I'm still looking up to Alfred,” says Kweyama, “but now he is looking to me for opportunities to share his knowledge with the youth.”
During September, Jazzart will present three new works in association with Artscape and Afrovibes. Following the Jonga and Connections double bill, an international collaboration between South Africa and the Netherlands on Tuesday and Wednesday, Ufundo will take to the stage with Unmute Dance Company from September 10 to 12.
Jonga features Jazzart, DOX (Utrecht) and Afrovibes (Amsterdam) in a fusion of styles such as European breakdance and pantsula. The production is choreographed by Elvis Sibeko and Erik Bos, who will be joined on stage by Rein Luuring and Aviwe November.
Connections is choreographed by Fana Tshabalala and Thulani Chauke from The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative (Johannesburg) under Dance Forum (SA), and Anna Maria Suijkerbuijk from ISH Dance Collective (Amsterdam).
Ufundo showcases the effort between Jazzart and Unmute Dance Company to learn to understand each other. “It’s the first time that Mziyanda is working with a disabled body. The challenge is to come up with something different. I want to encourage him not to imitate what Unmute has been doing,” says Kweyama. Unmute’s work serves as a model for a more inclusive and integrated society, demonstrated by performers of different artistic skills and mixed-abilities.
The piece is choreographed by Mziyanda Mancam and Andile Vellem, and danced by Vellem, Zama Sonjica, Yaseen Manuel, Adam Malebo, Nomfundo Hlongwa and Thabisa Dinga.
l Jonga and Connections is at Artscape tomorrow and Wednesday at 8pm. Tickets: R100, R80 for block bookings and students. Ufundo runs from September 10 – 12 at 8pm, matinees on the Friday and Saturday at 3pm. Tickets: R80, R65 students. Book: 0861 915 8000. Information: [email protected]