The long-established Port Elizabeth Dance Festival will be held from August 28 to September 1 at its traditional home of the Savoy Theatre.
The PEDF will feature 16 dance studios showcasing nearly 400 talented dancers from Port Elizabeth, Grahamstown, Graaff-Reinet and Knysna, ranging in ages from four to 42 years in modern, ballet, tap, hip hop, and Indian dance performances.
The Port Elizabeth Dance Festival, now in its 38th year, was founded by Jennifer Abrahams and Hermione Ballinger in 1981 to promote the love of dance.Nici Lovemore, daughter of the late Hermoine Ballinger, who is continuing her mother’s legacy as chairperson of PEDF, is passionate about dance and is looking forward to the action-packed five-day dance festival.
“I am thrilled that so many Eastern Cape dance studios have given their dancers the opportunity to compete and enjoy this fun experience, and this year, all participating dancers will receive a stylish recognition medal,” Lovemore said.
“We will continue to create a professional platform for dancers of all ages to gain and enjoy stage experience.”Internationally recognised dancer Delia Sainsbury, also an actress, television presenter and theatre producer and trainer at Cape Town’s Waterfront Theatre School, will adjudicate the 2018 PEDF.
The festival will also launch the PEDF/Theatre Dance Association’s (TDA) Fabulous Trophy and competition entry bursary for two talented dancers.
Participating dance studios include:
Charismatic Dance Crew, Geetanjali, Candice Johnstone Dance Academy, Carmen School of Dance (Knysna), Channae Erens School of Ballet, Marlene Rubidge, Natyakshetram, Prestige School of Dance (Grahamstown), Toynbee Ballet Academy, Amaphiko Township Dance Project (Grahamstown), Ellen Bunting Dance Academy, Natasha Tait Dance Studio, SA Dance Academy (Grahamstown), Defying Gravity, Chinelle’s School of Dance (Graaff-Reinet), Une’s Dance Studio (Knysna).Sainsbury will select her choice of the two ‘Most Fabulous’ dancers (Adjudicator’s Choice, including all dance disciplines).
The two deserving dancers will each receive the Fabulous Trophy and entry into the sought-after Regional MOVE! competition in Cape Town in September this year.
This prize will include flights and accommodation for the two dancers and their chaperones.
Move! Cape Town showcases a broad range of dance styles and offers prizes and the opportunity to compete in the national competition in Johannesburg.The Festival will culminate in a gala hosted by comedian Roland Gaspar who will add his own choreographed dance feature before the Festival performance highlights, as well as the awards presentation on Saturday, September 1.
The PE Festival starts daily at 12.30 and entry is R30. Tickets may be bought at the theatre.
The Gala event on Saturday September 1, will start at 6.30pm. Entry is R85 for adults and R55 for scholars and pensioners.
Further information from Megan van den Bergh, 079-969-0312, or buy tickets at the Savoy Theatre entrance.