The Sunday Mail
Takudzwa Chihambakwe Leisure Correspondent
ALL is set for this year’s edition of Starlight Dancing set to take place in the garden at the Ballet Centre, from September 28 to October 2. This platform was established over 35 years ago in a bid to give senior dancers from all dancing studios an opportunity to perform. “Approximately 100 dancers, who are all from Harare-based studios are set to perform at this year’s show,” said Dance Trust of Zimbabwe (DTZ) Administrator, Eve Stranix.
“Preparations are in full swing with Masimba Group having erected the stage for us once again free of charge – they have been doing this ever since Starlight Dancing began. The staff at DTZ are busy dressing the stage and preparing the grounds. The dancing studios are all rehearsing madly and making costumes. This weekend the rehearsals on stage will start and the finishing touches done,” she added.
On whether the objectives of the show have been met over the years she said, “Yes, this production has been enjoyed by both the dancers and the audiences. Some dancers, who dance as a hobby, do not get any other opportunities to perform.
“We strive to stage as many types of dance as possible to hopefully provide varied entertainment for the public – the show has proved to be popular with families as they can bring their chairs, blankets and picnics, sit in the garden and enjoy the show.”
This year’s programme will feature a number of genres, which include acrobatic, Afro-jazz, ballet, Bollywood, character, classical Indian, comedy, contemporary, hip-hop, jazz and line dancing. The dances are choreographed and danced by Afrikera Arts Trust, Backstage, Gail Boardman, Natalie Bradbury, Mitzi Carruthers, Dance Avenue, Dance 1st International, Bibi Eastwood, Eileen Fleet, Debbie Fleming, Faye Jackson, Jus’ 4 Kicks, Kinkini, M & M Dance Factory and DTZ’s Outreach Team.
Funding has been a critical area for most players in the arts sector this year with a number of festivals and annual shows having been suspended due to poor cash flows. Asked how they have managed to host this year’s edition, Eve said, “We have not received any outside funding. We are lucky to have people, who have a passion for dance, that work as volunteers and all the dancers perform free of charge.”
Though there has been a lot of activity in Harare on the dance circuit across all genres, the same cannot be said for other cities.
Speaking on the efforts they are making as DTZ to grow interest in dance throughout the nation she said, “The Dance Trust of Zimbabwe strives continually to take dance to the nation. However, the present economic situation constricts our activities.
“We have taken productions to other cities in the past. This is a costly exercise and we have only managed to cover the cost by conducting fund raising activities and using private vehicles to transport the cast, technical equipment and scenery.
“If a show is taken on tour, a team is required in the place where the show will be performed to assist with publicity. For this type of show to be staged in other provinces, the dancing studios in those provinces would be the ones to drive the project.
“DTZ has an outreach programme, which teaches dance free of charge to approximately 750 underprivileged and physically/mentally challenged children in the Harare area.
“The aim of this project is to show that disability does not mean inability. This project expands and contracts depending on the available resources – it is totally reliant on donor funding.
“Funding permitting an Outreach Dance Festival is staged at the end of every year and all the students taught on this project are invited to attend. They are given a chance to perform on a stage in front of an audience. If dancers do not perform, it can be likened onto going to soccer practice all year and never playing in a match.”
Starlight Dancing was established over 35 years ago when the friends of the Ballet started staging “Ballet in the Park”, on the concrete outdoor stage in the Harare Gardens. It has always been staged at the end of September so that the nights would be warmer and hopefully the rains would not have started as yet.
