The festival aims to provide emerging and established dance companies and choreographers with an opportunity to present their work, whilst striving to nurture and promote dance talent. The 10th Dance Festival is not only a celebration of dance, but an opportunity to take a re?ective look at how dance has shaped the lives and landscape of aspiring dancers.
"It is the perfect environment to experience and see work by established professionals, as well as exciting up-and-coming dance practitioners. This festival has evolved since its formation in 2004; it has grown enormously and gained international recognition over the years," said Nicolette Moses, the Associate Producer and Planning Manager of the Baxter Theatre.
The festival has left an indelible mark on the Western Cape performing arts landscape for the past 10 years. Since its inception in 2004, over 450 local choreographers have presented their work in the festival, featuring over 3000 dancers from more than 400 studios, dance schools, projects and professional companies from all over the Western Cape - presenting a wide variety of dance styles and genres including contemporary, classical, African, modern and Spanish.
"The Baxter Dance Festival's objective is to marry all forms of dance seamlessly, from the cerebral to the exotic - showcasing the diverse dance styles and genres in the Western Cape and fostering close relationships with our international counterparts in countries as far flung as Sweden," said Moses.
The Main Programme, starting on 9 October, will feature works of various lengths by established professionals and invited companies, such as Abeedah Medell, Anderson Carvalho, Brigitte Reeve Taylor, Belinda Nusser and Gary Hartley. The Main Programme will feature a commissioned piece, titled Grandiose a la mode - by Thalia Laric and Steve van Wyk, which promises to delight contemporary dance enthusiasts.
The Off Main Programme, which takes place on 11 October, will showcase work by up-and-coming choreographers, including student work.
The Fringe Programme on 18 October will include work by youth groups, dance studios, school groups and traditional dance groups - an exciting platform to see community dance studios and groups at work.
Booking is through Computicket on 0861 915 8000, online at www.computicket or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet
