The JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience which takes place free and online from 24 August to 5 September, features 56 different dance films, including six commissioned works by Durban choreographers.
These works will be presented as part of the Durban Digital Edge Platform, on Thursday, 26 August at 7pm. These young local dance makers who are making waves on the local dance scene are: Sabelo Cele, Thobile Maphanga, Nqubeko ‘Cue’ Ngema, Cameron S. Govender, Aphelele Nyawose, and Sinethemba Khuzwayo. Each was tasked to work loosely around the festival theme – “Border Crossings”.
“At this holding-room time in history, and as we delve into the genre for Screen Dance JOMBA! is proud to play a part in supporting Durban artists to reimagine their creativity and their dance work for a digital space” says Lliane Loots, Artistic Director of JOMBA! which is presented by the Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN). “These are important voices of young people. It is work that is engaging and insightful, offering a window into a world of South African youth behind the veil of the pandemic.”
Sabelo Cele, who is currently a Masters Candidate (Drama and Performance Studies) at the University of Kwazulu-Natal, presents Uhambo –adocumentation of how queer bodies thrive through living in movement.
Border Impositions is the title of freelance choreographer and dancer, Sinethemba Khuzwayo’s work which unpacks the borders and boundaries imposed on the bodies of young generations through religion, culture, beliefs, and traditions. Sinethemba has performed in a number of works by Mhayise Productions, and more recently in a music video by Dr Thokozani Mhlambi.
Cameron S. Govender’s Aikyam … reincarnating identity, looks at the journey of discovery of self. He studied classical Indian styles such as Bharathanatyam and Natyam, and has performed and worked with Sri Saradha Institute of Arts and Culture, Tribhangi Dance Theatre, Cape Dance Company, SuriaLanga Dance amongst others.
imThwalo, is a dance film created by Aphelele Nyawose that tackles the contentious issue of remaining in abusive relationships, in the context of African sexuality, spirituality and physicality. Aphelele is a dancer choreographer who has performed in numerous productions including Musa Hlatshwayo’s Ndoni.
Thobile Maphanga, a Masters Candidate (Drama and Performance Studies) at UKZN, dance practitioner, creative collaborator and currently in a curator mentorship with JOMBA!, presents Sihamba sizibhala (In becoming we leave traces of ourselves behind). This is asolo exploration of one traveller’s journeying.
(photo: Thomis Sweet-Harvey)
Award-winning dancer, a choreographer, teacher and the founder of Africue_entertainment, Nqubeko ‘Cue’ Ngema presents Can You See me Now? which examines how African people have been blinded by western cultures, and how drawing on traditional cultures could help realign African thinking.
All these works can be accessed FREE and online on Thursday 26 August at 7pm on YouTube: https://bit.ly/WatchJomba (Subscribe to get notifications)
They will also be available to watch for the duration of the festival.
For the full programme go to: https://bit.ly/JOMBAProg
