Seatavern

South African Books Brought To Life Through The DanceEVERYTHING IS CONNECTEDcontemporary dance performance

What: Dance performance to celebrate 1 year anniversary of the CDL When: 17 November 2024 (Sunday) at 15:00 (duration 1,5 hours)Where: NG Kerk Paarl (address: 3 Klein Reservoir St., Paarl, Western Cape)

Contemporary Dance Laboratory invites you to celebrate the 1 year anniversary with the concert performed by the CDL dance school students on the 17 of November 2024 (Sunday) @15:00 at the NG Kerk Paarl (address: 3 Klein Reservoir St., Paarl, Western Cape).

As South Africa marks the 30th anniversary of the country’s democracy, the Contemporary Dance Laboratory is excited to present a dance performance titled “Everything is connected” for its 2024 annual dance school concert. Dance performance draws inspiration from South African books, celebrates unity in diversity through promoting social cohesion and seeks to encourage young artists and viewers to understand our values and our aspirations.

Six modern books (out of 30) were selected by CDL students (children 3-16 y.o.) to become the part of the dance performance. Each book has inspired children to make up their own stories through dance, challenge themselves to try new games and implement their original ideas in the performance to create a unique story structure.

“The whole world opens to you when you learn to read. The whole universe appears when you learn to dance. Art sparks the creative spirit and awakens critical thinking. Those skills are crucial in modern days to re-imaging the future and achieve your dreams.” - Kateryna Aloshyna, choreographer and director of the performance and co-founder of the Contemporary Dance Laboratory.

About the SA booksThrough the books “God’s Dream” (illustrated by Leuyen Pham) and “Desmond and the Very Mean Word” (illustrated by A. G. Ford) by Archbishop Desmond Tutu (former Secretary-General of the South African Council of Churches and Nobel Peace Prize winner) and Douglas Carlton Abrams (co-writer), children learn the power of words and the secret of forgiveness, wisdom about how to handle bullying and angry feelings.

Through the books “Let’s play” and “We are one” by Refiloe Moahloli (illustrated by Zinelda Mcdonald), children are encouraged to discover their environment, friendship and ubuntu that celebrates both our differences and similarities, and to use their imagination.

The book “The Art of Loving” by Vasti Spiller has been designed and written to help young children to overcome difficult circumstances by using Kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold, embracing the scars and in so doing, increasing the value.

Through the book “The Lion and the Clever Little Jackal” by Andrea Florens (adapted from an original Zulu folklore tale), children learn that your own wisdom is your best tool. With your acumen and tactfulness, you can gain victory in any circumstance (illustrated by Claire Norden).

Project objectives:

to increase the interest of children of different ages in reading books through the contemporary art;to inspire parents and educational institutions in using alternative methods of child development, thus increasing the emotional and cognitive functions of children in different age groups;to bring generations together and develop young people irrespective of nationality, cultural identity, ability, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or religion.

CDL is dedicated to actively promoting and exploring contemporary dance as an art form which develops networks for professional and innovative collaboration.For more information follow us on social media or contact +27 (82) 722-7231 (WhatsApp).