Dynamic dance duo performs exciting double bill at Baxter

A professional teacher, dancer and choreographer, Grant has an extensive background in ballroom and Latin dance and succeeded as a Ten Dance Championship dancer. He joined the three-year Adult Training and Job Creation Programme at Jazzart Dance Theatre under the directorship of Alfred Hinkel and, thereafter, joined the Jazzart Dance Theatre Company. In 2014 he launched the Figure Of Eight Dance Collective with Shaun Oelf, which strives for excellence, specialising in the development and presentation of innovative dance work. Grant is currently a sought-after freelance artist working with various artists and companies as a performer, teacher and choreographer.

Born in Joburg and raised in Knysna, Shaun is a professional dancer, choreographer and teacher. He started dancing in 2006 when he joined the Jazzart Dance Theatre's Young Adult Training and Job Creation Programme where he was introduced to theatre. After graduating from the programme he joined the Jazzart Dance Theatre Company. He has worked with accomplished choreographers, artists and directors, such as: Alfred Hinkel, John Linden, Lara Foot, Neo Muyanga, Jay Pather, Mandla Mbothwe, Ananda Fuchs, Ina Wichterich, Jacky Manyaapelo, Faniswa Yisa and Jaco Bouwer.

Remarkable talent

In 2014 this dynamic duo launched the Figure of Eight (FO8) in 2014. They have shared their remarkable talent with some of South Africa's most respected and innovative choreographers and dance theatre companies. Over the past five years they have also worked with top international choreographers and dancers. Both Grant and Shaun have taken their unwavering passion for dance and turned it into careers that include performance, teaching and choreography.

FO8 reflects their combined vision of a life on stage that resonates with passion, integrity and creative innovation, which underscores their commitment to high-quality, cutting-edge, thought-provoking and insanely beautiful contemporary dance that seeks to inspire young people, spark conversation and push artistic boundaries.

Figure of Eight Dance Collective recently performed at the Fleur du Cap Awards, choreographed by Grant. Last year they teamed up with dancer-musician Thabisa Dinga and choreographer-director Ananda Fuchs to create The Architecture of Tears, an exploration into the human responses to attraction beyond gender and social correctness.

It has been performed to great acclaim at the 2014 Cape Town Fringe and Baxter Dance Festival and most recently at the 2015 Dance Umbrella in Joburg. For this season at the Baxter, Ciara Barron will perform the female role from 9 to 14 April, followed by Thabisa Dinga from 15 to 18 April.

The Architecture of Tears was visually inspired by a study of 100 Tears Photographed Through A Standard Light Microscope conducted by Rose-Lynn Fisher in 2013, which comments on falling lustfully, landing painfully, dusting off vigorously and confronting our complex and simple truths.

Debut as artists-in-residence

With the premier of Most Honest Man, UCT graduates Mdu Kweyama and Alex McCarthy make their debut as artists-in-residence at the Baxter Theatre Centre for 2015, made possible by the Rolf-Stephan Nussbaum Foundation. For the production the two theatre-makers are supervised by the Baxter's CEO and artistic director Lara Foot. Resident director Kweyama heads the production as director and choreographer, with dramaturgy and assistant direction by resident playwright McCarthy.

Based on Shakespeare's Othello, Most Honest Man looks at the relationship between Othello (performed by Grant) and Iago (performed by Shaun), exploring the notions of sexual jealousy and its power to destroy. Through movement the relationship between the two characters is interrogation as they delve into issues such as trust, virtue, amorality, projection and isolation.

Grant and Shaun: A Double Bill of Dance previews on 9 April, opens on 10 April and runs until 18 April, at 7pm nightly, with a matinee on Saturday, 18 April at 3pm. Ticket prices are R60 for the preview, matinee and for the school performance on 16 April at 11am, and R100 for all other performances.

Booking is through Computicket on 0861 915 8000, online at www.computicket.com or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet. For discounted corporate, schools or block-bookings, charities or fundraisers, contact Sharon on +27 (0)21 680 3962, email sharon.ward@uct.ac.za or Carmen on +2 (0)21 680 3993, email az.ca.tcu@snraek.nemrac

For more live theatre, go to www.writingstudio.co.za