Love responsibly at the Artscape Women's Festival

This annual gathering of gender activists, artists and anyone interested in celebrating women's achievements and to experience cutting-edge workshops, intends to address the need in our society to empower and enlighten our men and women as to how to appreciate each other as human beings. It will take place at Artscape Theatre, Cape Town during the first week of August.

Marlene Le Roux, director of Artscape Theatre's Audience Development and Education Department, which runs the festival, said the event speaks to an urgent need that a caring society needs to be instilled in South Africa.

Learn to love responsibly

"Consider the dangerous manner in which women in South Africa love and are loved. Consider that South African women have the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in the world; that violence against women is directly linked to causing this epidemic," elaborated Le Roux. "Ours is a country in which men need to learn to love responsibly, love in a way that no longer carries risks for women." Her words indicate that men are also role players in advancing women's rights and security. After all, men are society's fathers, brothers and women's partners.

Dr Eve

The anchor of this festival is a well-respected clinical sexologist, Dr Marlene Wasserman, aka Dr Eve, who will host sessions about the importance of the holistic well-being of women and men. Dr Eve's workshops, which run from 5 to 7 August, will unpack a host of topics, including: Sex when you are sick; Know your legal rights and understand the power of education; and How to raise sexually healthy children. Among the partners that form the panel discussions within workshops are Famsa, SASHA and the Triangle Project. Dr Eve will also partner Nia Dance Technique South Africa to present a "Danceshop" that opens an understanding "for women to reconnect to their sexuality". A full programme of workshops and seminars beyond Dr Eve's involvement has also been scheduled.

Seminars

Gender Dynamix will host a workshop to question the meaning of an African Woman. Another seminar will investigate how race, class, sexual orientation and gender identity can serve as barriers when accessing services such as shelters. There's even a belly-dancing workshop to experience the feeling of moving like a belly dancer in your own body. The "Men's Discussion Forum" brings on board male voices via the Sonke Gender Justice group, which hosts a discussion and debate about gender equality, discrimination and gender-based violence.

Entertainment

Entertainment will enliven the passion to share regarding women's rights. The line-up includes I, Claudia, which is an award-winning one-woman play that humourously unpacks critical teen issues of identity, individuality, transformation, peer pressure and parental and family relations. It is written by Kristen Thomson from Canada, features unique masks created by Melani-Rene Louwrens and is directed by Lara Bye. Experienced performer Euodia Samson meanwhile directs a play 'Dêns Wit Me' that depicts the lives of ordinary women, which tells the story of a cleaner who puts her dancing talent to the test and comes out tops. Women's voices will also come together on stage for the Sistahood and Women Unite in Concert show.

The concert will feature Sistahood, the all-women band under the leadership of Celeste Williams, and Thandi Swartbooi's all-women marimba band Women Unite. They will focus on Cape Town's rich and unique diversity through music, dance and poetry.

For more information, go to www.artscape.co.za. Ticket bookings via Computicket on +27 (0)83 915 8000 or Dial-A-Seat on +27 (0)21 421 7695.