adminLiberty Dube : Entertainment Correspondent
THE Zimbabwean Championships of Performing Arts, an organisation that discovers home grown artistic talent and provides a platform for local youths to compete and be recognised internationally has commenced their talent-scouting auditions in Mutare. The ZICOPA team that comprises national coordinator, Precious Nyamande and national talent scout, Zandile ‘Zaza’ Ndlovu recently held a workshop at Courtauld Theatre with local performing arts bodies, public and private sector organisations, individual artists, artistes and scouts.
According to Ndlovu, the workshop was in preparation for the first ever Zimbabwe Championships of Performing Arts grand final to be held early June in the United States of America.
“We are preparing contestants for the world stage and providing them with the unparalleled opportunity to compete against over 63 other countries. The team will hold auditions in Harare and Bulawayo on April 21 and 23 respectively and they will descend on Mutare and Bulawayo in May.
Auditions will be held in several categories such as acting, dancing (ballet, hip hop, jazz, ballroom, traditional, tap) singing (classical, contemporary, jazz, rap), instrument playing, modelling and variety entertainment such as gymnastics, magic and beat boxing. The final Team Zimbabwe will be announced during the first week of June and they will take part in the World Championships of Performing Arts in Hollywood in United States of America from July 7 to 18,” she said.
Participants can either find a local talent scout or register online at www.zicopa.org. Participants are also urged to prepare a 60-second audition showcase. Results of the final team selected will be published nationally. Participants range from the ages of 8 years to 65 years.
“ZICOPA is excited to be able to offer Zimbabwean youth this opportunity to begin to truly hone their talent and express their dreams. This platform’s most central goal is to dare young people and their parents to dream.
“Formed in response to the conspicuous absence of world class African talent on international platforms like the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA), we will conduct auditions till end of May in cities across Zimbabwe, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Our organisation provides a platform for Zimbabwean youth nationals, living both in Zimbabwe and other countries, to compete and be recognised on a global scale. I am grateful to Courtauld Theatre players who include Henry Tsopotsa and Lorraine Mutale among others for partnering with us,” she added.
The organisation was founded by Jessica Nyarai Tandi and Nontokozo Moyo.
Veteran artiste, Albert Nyathi is the national director and brand ambassador.
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