Dance festival comes alive

Reckson Mandizvidza Entertainment Reporter
Masvingo dance groups Prototypes and Zvazvinhu grabbed the two top slots for tickets to represent the province ahead of the national Jibilika Dance Festival finals to be held later in August this year.
The two groups came out tops ahead of 12 other groups which were vying for the accolade during the recently held provincial finals at Charles Austin Theatre in Masvingo.

Prototypes and Zvazvinhu now join another group Swag Turn Up which took the pole position ahead of 10 others in the Harare provincials as well as others yet to contest in their respective provinces.

A second group to represent Harare province will be selected at an event to be held in Chitungwiza.
In a Press release, organisers of the annual event, Jibilika Dance Trust said this year’s event which is running under theme “Urban Roots” is also poised to give ownership of the initiative to the locals.

“We are working with local arts organisations in all the respective cities as a way of giving ownership of the initiative to the locals.
“Our aim is to promote dance as a vehicle for youth and talent development as well as a platform for recreation”.

The festival which was founded in 2007 has this year put in a new structure to increase the scope of the festivities.
“This year the two winners from each of the provinces will be tasked to create a dance piece that fuses traditional and urban dances which represent their province.
“They will be showcasing our own dance heritage story whilst embracing the urban trends.

“The goal is to get young people to know and appreciate their culture and preserve it at the same time giving them the liberty to be creative and use their own preferred art form thus creating a unique dance style.

Jibilika Dance Trust said their drive was also to ensure that even the communities which play custodianship of the dances will also gain through preservation by the youths.

“We seek to encourage young people to remain rooted in our traditional culture at the same time shining in the urban forms.
“The drive will not only impact on dancers only but also the various communities they reside in and the general audience.

“The festival will present a rare fusion of two cultures and two generation”.
The festival which is in its seventh edition will have its national finals in Harare while the prizes for the winners are set to be revealed in July.