Sibikwa Arts Centre
The
Sibikwa Arts Centre celebrate their
31st anniversary this year. Founded in 1988 in response to rising concerns over the quality of education for township learners, this dedicated arts centre was established with the objective to give the youth a platform to express their emotions through drama, dance and music. Now, three decades on, Sibikwa is still going strong under the mentorship of theatre stalwarts, Smal Ndaba and Phyllis Klotz.
As part of their
Saturday Arts Academy, Sibikwa Arts Centre also invite young learners to participate in classes, including
drama, African indigenous music, poetry, literacy, visual arts, Hip Hop dance, gumboot and traditional dance. They then present what they have learnt throughout the year at both the mid-year and year-end concerts.
Additionally, Sibikwa hosts a number of other workshops and events. For example, their
Inclusive Creative Arts Programme runs in aid of out-of-school, out-of-work and disabled learners. They also offer a short skills and facilitation course in the arts.
The importance of this arts centre in keeping community youth theatre alive is imperative. They are an "encyclopedia of art" for young artistic talents.
"We help the youth be the best version of themselves through art”, Sibikwa’s Marketing Manager Bongani Yende says.
National Heritage Month
In celebration of
National Heritage Month, Sibikwa's young learners will be presenting a cultural dance showcase. The day is set to be a colourful extravaganza, featuring performances of South African traditional dance, Indian dance and Pantsula. Nineteen traditional dance groups from Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga will compete for the grand prize, which includes a set of djembe drums.
Performers from the
Mbazwane Creative Arts, in the far north of KZN, will be Sibikwa’s special guests for the day. They will present a song and dance piece depicting the various stages of traditional Zulu courtship. This highlights the inclusion of
all local cultural groupings in the dances presented at the festival to promote a sense of unity and diversity. Fittingly, the judging panel for the competition is made up of parents of Sibikwa learners and other community members, to ensure that all dance groups stand a chance at winning.
[caption id="attachment_100462" align="aligncenter" width="660"]
Previous winners of the Heritage Celebrations Dance Competition - Sakhile Cultural Group[/caption]
Don your finery and come make a splash at the Heritage Celebration by wearing your traditional attire. There will be a parade of all the colourful costumes of the guest and performers, with prizes for the best dressed male and female. The Heritage Day celebrations conclude with a
communal bring and braai. Sibikwa often host impromptu dance and jazz sessions too, so be sure to bring your instruments along.
Supporting young talent and diversity is the perfect way to celebrate Heritage Month. So, don't miss this awesome event!
When Is It?
Saturday,
29 September 2019 at 10:00 - 16:30.
Where Is It?
Sibikwa Arts Centre, Cnr Bolton and Liverpool Streets, Benoni, Gauteng.
How Much Is It?
Tickets cost
R40 for adults and R20 for children.
To book your tickets, contact Michael on
011 422 4359 or via email at
[email protected].
For more information
For more information and event updates, follow Sibikwa Arts Centre on
Facebook or
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