26 November 2007

Lyf

Lyf

Teks: Kelsey Middleton en Mariet Swanepoel
Regie - Choreografie: Kelsey Middleton -
Oudiovisuele ontwerp: Brenton Watt Met Laura de Vries, Martin van Heerden, Louise Basson en ander dansers van die Kmad.com geselskap• Moontlik gemaak deur die Distell Stigting vir die Uitvoerende Kunste

Eers was daar Lyftaal (2002), toe Lyf en siel (2003) en nou word die trilogie van dié hoog aangeskrewe Pretoriase dansgroep afgesluit met Lyf , wat verlede jaar op Aardklop staande toegejuig is. Middleton sê in Beeld die dinamiese slotafl ewering van haar “lyfl ike ontdekkingstog” bestaan uit twee dele. “ Dedication is ’n prelude wat opgedra word aan vroue in Afrika en die tweede deel, Lyf , handel oor lewenservarings. Dít wat die mens met al sy sensitiwiteite slyp; mislukte verhoudings, die soeke na aanvaarding. Of soos die teks sê: ‘Ek is gebore as ’n dogtertjie, maar die lewe het van my ’n vrou gemaak.’” Lyf is ’n besliste feeshoogtepunt.

An outstanding contemporary dance porduction performed by Kmad.com. The production has had sold out performances at KKNK, Innie Bos & Pretoria. The dancers take the audience through the journey through the life of a women- love lost, love found, never without heart ache. "Our best female contemporary dancers in South Africa" quoted by Ester Nasser-ex artistic director of Pact dance Company.





"Beginner dancer: Knows nothing.

Intermediate dancer: Knows everything. Too good to dance with beginners.

Hotshot dancer: Too good to dance with anyone.

Advanced dancer: Dances everything. Especially with beginners."


Attributed to Dick Crum, a folk dance teacher
25 November 2007:

A few of our students (Jerelize, Danielle, Laure and Laura) took part in the choreographic competition today. Danielle Jordaan won the Junior Competition and Jerelize Labuschane came third!! Well done girls, we are proud of you!!

Vibrations

FROM: Tonight, Pretoria News, The Star

Don't conform: The emancipation of the individual
November 13, 2007
By Pinto Ferreira

Vibrations
Director: Mandla Mcunu
Cast: Tshwane Dance Theatre & Kmad.com
Venue: The Breytenbach Theatre
When: November 8 -10

The weekend Pretoria's two professional contemporary dance companies, Tshwane Dance Theatre, under the directorship of Mandla Mcunu, and Kelsey Middleton's Kmad.com presented a collaborative programme of four new choreographic works. The programme consisted of three works for TDT - Carpe Diem by Sifiso Kweyama, Us by Marie Brolin-Tani and Pale by Gregory Maqoma. Kmad.com performed Life, choreographed by Kelsey Middleton and Mieke Swanepoel. The theme of all four works centred around social significance - fostering individuality amidst conforming to society, sharing life as a significant experience, experiencing the diversity of possible relationships and, alas, alienation as an inevitable reality. Maqoma is a fascinating choreo- grapher. Side stepping over statements as well as hackneyed movement trends, he speaks through meaningful ambience that clearly and effortlessly carries messages across . In its non-dance simplicity Maqoma's movement is expressively honest. Within his own language the detail of his work is hypnotically magnetic. It is this type of work by this type of choreographer that can propel TDT out of an often laboured repertoire into an accessible and prominent company. Middleton is rocketing her company into an entirely new stature. Her latest work is bold, focused, non-cliché and entertaining. This twice Vita Award-winning dancer's work is completely underexposed. In her work Life she showcases her new graduates and company intakes. The company is by far more superior than the previous one. Apart from the dancers' technical prowess and unique expressive abilities, they work as one unified force that is, especially in this work, spellbinding. Jeannette Ziady in the leading role produces a riveting performance. One hopes these works will be seen by Joburg audiences - it is award-winning stuff.