Durbanites and visitors are being serenaded with a plethora of dance productions at the 26th JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience currently happening in the city.
As part of the festival, organisers have announced the JOMBA! Digital Open Horizons “pick of the platform” Award winners.
At the start of the festival, the Digital Open Horizons platform invited digital submissions of original dance pieces from new and established dance-makers across Africa.
Seven of the productions were shortlisted and reviewed by an independent jury.
South African dance piece, “Yolk”, by Skyla Buchanan took top honours, followed by Nigeria’s Femi Adebajo’s “Echoes” in second place and Mthuthuzeil November’s “Lacuna” in third place.
The jury shared that “Yolk” was “innovative and interesting”.
The extraordinary dance piece was directed and edited by Skyla Buchanan a contemporary trained dancer, practitioner and choreographer and filmed by Beatrice Mariani.
“Yolk” is set against the oppressive heat of summer, and explores the link between womanhood and fertility.
Buchanan explained: “A woman with no children is a wasted potential of a womb, wasted space, wasted time, wasted life - the wasted yolk of a fresh egg.
“I am so happy and grateful to have my work recognised and to have it resonate with people.”
Jury member Thobile Maphanga said: “It’s intriguing visual and chronographic concept captivated us as the viewers. We enjoyed the use of props and look forward to Skyla’s further development of her choreographic voice.”
Nigeria’s Femi Adebajo’s “Echoes”, which is performed by Adebajo and Janed Aduayom, explored art as a medium of connection to the human mind.
Adebajo explained that “Echoes” offered a creative depiction of the idea of pressure and its impact on people's mental and physical conditions.
“I am glad and honoured to accept this accolade. Thank you very much. ‘Echoes’ aims to offer a powerful and artistic insight into the human experience, highlighting the effects of pressure and its significance in our lives.”
Jury member Ntshadi Mofokeng said: “‘Echoes’ stood out for its excellent narrative and lovely use of location space ... The film almost ends to soon as one gets drawn into the tension.”
“Lacuna” took third place for its play between dark and light space, slow motion and cinematic sets.
Choreographed and performed by South African choreographer, Mthuthuzeil November, and directed by Louise Coetzer, “Lacuna” traces the “unfilled spaces of the brutalist architecture enveloping the dancer.”
“It is a cinematic study of light and shade, seen and unseen,” described November.
The JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience continues until September 8, offering a range of workshops, talks and performances. Tickets are available through Computicket.
For more information visit www.jomba.ukzn.ac.za.
Watch the Top 7 JOMBA! Digital Open Horizons “pick of the platform” below.