The cream of the crop of Eastern Cape dancers will on Monday represent the province in a dance extravaganza in Johannesburg.
The 10 dancers, some of them leaders of their respective groups, on Friday showcased their dance production at the Guild Theatre in East London, which they will perform with their counterparts from the Free State and the North West on Monday.
They have fused different dance techniques, which include ballet, contemporary, hip-hop and traditional in nicely choreographed moves.
Before showcasing their production on Friday, the dancers had a two-week workshop where they polished their moves.
The dancers are expected to create a 20-minute production that will be part of their joint production with two other provinces in Johannesburg.
They will perform the “connections” dance extravaganza with the two provinces. They left for Johannesburg on Friday.
The Eastern Cape Provincial Arts and Culture Council (ECPACC) collaborated with Moving Into Dance Mophatong (MIDM) through their “connections” project to train 10 performing dancers from the Eastern Cape.
Some of the dancers include the well-known choreographer Simphiwe Mba and Simvuyele Hala, a member of Unstoppable Youth which recently won a provincial talent search competition.
“I am honoured that my group chose me to represent them and the Buffalo City in this dance extravaganza. Our dance production showcases different cultures and promotes that we go back to our roots and embrace them,” said Hala before leaving for Johannesburg with the team.
Mba said he had learnt a lot during the workshops.
“I was taken out of my comfort zone. We were taught different dance techniques from the ones we are used to. It is an opportunity of a lifetime that one really could not let slip away,” he said.
MIDM senior staffer Teboho Letele said: “MIDM uses creative medium of dance and performing arts to train, educate, develop and empower youth and adults, especially those that are economically underprivileged and unemployed.”
ECPACC CEO Phumeza Skoti said it was important to support local artists as that was part of their mandate.
“Art is very important. It transforms lives and ejects something out of the heart. Art must travel. It must be consumed by everyone.
“The Eastern Cape is rich in talent and we decided that we should showcase the group’s dance production at the Guild Theatre today so that people from the Eastern Cape enjoy their talent before it is showcased in other provinces,” said Skoti..