Arts writer
EXPERIENCE the beauty, grace and mysticism of oriental dance at the 10th International Oriental Dance Festival from October 23 to 25. The festival, which is arranged by Ajsa Samia and Palace of the Winds, is in aid of The Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children in Athlone.
This year’s event will include about 600 dancers from 55 dance studios participating in the fringe programme. The festival aims to advance the performing art of oriental and fusion dance in South Africa by bringing together dancers from all over the world as well as exposing the South African public to this highly entertaining and cultural feast by the various styles of the dance: folklore, Balkan, gypsy, tribal, classic Egyptian, Turkish, Middle Eastern, Indian, and many others.
The festival programme includes a variety of different events. First up is the Confederación Interamericana de la Danza (CIAD) competition at Michael Oak Waldorf School in Kenilworth today from 12pm to 4.30pm. The international competition features oriental and fusion dance. Winners will get the opportunity to participate at international gala shows in Argentina, Germany and Switzerland.
Later this evening, enjoy performances by professional international and South African oriental and fusion dancers at a Gala Evening in the Michael Oak Large Hall. On the line-up are international guests Pili Rubi and Andrea Fernandez from Argentina, Artemis from Germany, Irina Shamira from Lithuania and Eunsuk HUK from South Korea. Palace of the Winds, Oriental Evolution Langebaan, Rhythm Nouveau Dance Company, and Pretoria’s Dancer of the Desert will also feature.
Completing the gala programme are Studio Tarab, Fariha BDS from George, Feminine Divine, Hip Circle, Thelma Rose from Joburg, HipNotize, Al Masrh Academy and Ajsa Samia, as well as the CIAD solo and group winners. Tickets are R150. Call Computicket at 0861 915 8000, or e-mail [email protected]
A series of workshops tomorrow at the Protea Hotel in Sea Point will give participants the chance to learn from some of the world’s best Oriental dance teachers. See www.iodfcapetown.com to book.
Head to the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre on Sunday where hundreds of belly dancers, from beginners to master level, from all over the world will perform as part of the festival’s fringe programme. The event kicks off at 10.30am and will run until 6.30pm. There will also be a bazaar with a wide variety of dancing accessories, jewellery, costumes and food for sale.
Organiser The Oriental Dance Theatre Palace of the Winds aims to benefit women from across the entire social spectrum in South Africa and abroad by offering participation in recreational dance, aesthetic dance, fitness and toning routines, performances at festivals and celebrations or performances in theatrical productions and restaurants. One of their main goals is for women of all ages, body types, races, social, cultural origins and economic status to unite and learn to dismiss the negative stereotypes of modern consumerist society and to accept, appreciate and value themselves as women through oriental dance.
They use dance as a tool to advance women’s rights and interests by improving self-confidence, self-esteem, physiology, emotional and psychological condition and possibly financially, in circumstances where women use oriental dance to create employment for themselves.
Oriental Dance Theatre Palace of the Winds founder performer, choreographer and instructor Samia ( Marina Rehbein) was born in Serbia and spends her time between Cape Town and Frankfurt.
She has developed her own teaching programme to train belly dance teachers and to train belly dancers to become belly dance teachers.
Given her background of being a medical nurse, she also uses belly dancing in a therapeutic manner. She has also developed a dance therapy programme, called OriDaThera, helping people to regain balance, litheness and movement after illness, injury or surgery as well to help abused women to deal with the trauma of their abuse and find a safe way to work through the pain of their experiences.
She has performed and taught at schools, academies and festivals around the world, from Tanzania to Namibia, Tunisia, Germany, the US, Argentina, Slovakia and beyond.
All proceeds generated by the festival will be donated to The Saartjie Baartman Centre in Athlone.
The centre is an NGO for women and children who are survivors of abuse. The centre’s vision is to create a safe society, founded on principles of human rights, in which women and children are empowered to exercise their rights optimally.
l www.iodfcapetown.com