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at Bulawayo Theatre in a bid to revive tap dance in the city.
Jazz Tap Ensemble made the move possible by liaising with the Zimbabwean Embassy to link them with locally based groups to embark on a cultural exchange programme with Zimbabwean groups. The cultural exchange programme is also part of the Jazz Tap Ensemble’s worldwide tour.
Siyaya Arts and Iyasa are the main facilitators of the initiative in Bulawayo and both groups were made custodians of the donated shoes.
The shoes are set to be donated to excelling local performing groups.
In an interview, co-ordinator of the programme Desmond Ntini said the group was set to embark on a cultural workshop where local based performing groups and jazz musicians are also set to take part.
“Jazz Tap Ensemble will be in the country for two weeks whereby one week they will be in Bulawayo while the other in Harare.
“Locally based performing groups alongside Jazz musicians such as the Cool Crooners are set to be trained on how to tap dance at Bulawayo Theatre while in Harare artistes are set to meet at Harare International Festival Arts (Hifa),” he said.
Ntini also said Siyaya Arts, Hloseni, Iyasa, Kwabatsha and students from Nketa and Njube are already part of the programme.
Addressing Bulawayo based dance groups, American Embassy assistant public affairs officer, Jillian Bonnardeaux said, Jazz Tap Ensemble was made up of 10 members.
Bonnardeaux also said four members were dancers, while three where musicians and three technical directors.
Ntini also said Zimbabwe was fortunate to have the group touring two cities considering that it mainly focused on capital cities only.
“So far Ensemble had toured Mozambique and DRC where they mainly targeted the capital cities. It is fortunate that Bulawayo based artistes are getting the opportunity to exchange their culture with the group considering that they were only touring capital cities.
The group is set to stage a show at the Academy of Music, while on Saturday it would be performing alongside local groups at Bulawayo Has Got Talent show.
Ntini also urged local to take initiative in learning more on tap dance.
Online Reporter