May 2012
22 posts
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Loss
In our Dramatic Need workshops, often we don’t have a ream of photographs to share at the end of the day. The energy, the intensity, the sharing and the exploration don’t always allow for the snapping of a camera. Today, we thought we’d give you a little glimpse into some of the heartfelt opening that often takes place. Through a discussion on the idea of “loss”...
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Sundance in Africa
Recently we read this article and were delighted to see the acclaimed Sundance Institute is taking an interest in artists within Africa. In April, they hosted a week-long Theatre Stage Directors workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopa for a select eight. The attendees came from a variety of Sub-Saharan nations include Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia and Kenya.
“The one-week exchange and development...
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Screen Dance in Rwanda
“Often, filmmakers are taught rules that were established by a very strong cinematic tradition - you don’t move your camera from tripod, and you don’t cross the line. I absolutely respect these rules and I think they have a place. However, what screendance does is to break all these rules” explained Jeannette.
Jeannette Ginslov is a dancer from South Africa who...
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“If we don’t stand up for children, then we don’t stand for much.”
– Marian Wright Edelman
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Soweto gets Theatre
Two hours drive from us in the Free State, is the well-known Soweto. An acronym for South-West-Township, Soweto hosts a larger population than it’s better known neighbour Johannesburg. During Apartheid, Soweto was created as a formal dumping ground for the forcibly removed black populations from inner-city Johannesburg. Since 1994, Soweto has more than flourished, acquiring museums,...
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16 Young Dancers
Former rap-star, Nimesh Patel turned his life around through a connection with the teachings of Gandhi, the practise of teaching dance and music and working with vulnerable children. More commonly known as Nimo, he has spent the last 2 years working with a group of sixteen 10-14 year olds on a dance production called Ekatva which means “Unity.” The production is currently running in...
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“If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose...”
– Martin Luther King, Jr
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The Colour of Change
Thanks to the trusty “Good” we have a fascinating read to share with you:
“Color already plays a major role in communicating messages: Just think of those bright yellow Livestrong bracelets, red T-shirts for Bono’s (Red) campaign to fight AIDS in Africa, or all pink everything for breast cancer awareness. Now, a new collaborative of design students and color specialists...
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Sexual Assault Prevention Tips
Remember we wrote a couple weeks ago about the sky-high numbers on rape in South Africa? Well, unfortunately, as well all know rape and sexual abuse are not relegated just to South Africa, but is prevelent in all societies. There is so much information out there for women about what not to do, to prevent rape. However, there’s not much information out there clearly describing behaviours...
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“There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children. There...”
– Kofi Annan
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Fugard's "My Children! My Africa!"
The off-broadway Signature Theater in NYC opens “My Children! My Africa!” on 24 May, two weeks away. Get your tickets now for this riveting production directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, based on the script of South Africa’s own renowned playwright Athol Fugard. The production began previews on 1 May and runs through 10th June.
Off-broadway provides this description of...
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“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
– Albert Einstein
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Workers Day
Officially a national holiday in South Africa, Workers Day is a day that gives recognition to the struggle of workers to win fair employment standards and workers rights. Here at Dramatic Need, we’d like to give recognition to our team of workers. So often you see the faces of our students and their art, but rarely the gears in the big machine of our arts education charity. Important to...
