A new international dance festival is set to breathe life into Namibia’s contemporary dance scene as ‘Movement’ begins in Windhoek next week.
The year-long festival was launched at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC) yesterday and will welcome dancers from South Africa, Reunion Island and Botswana for a programme of performances, workshops and cultural exchange.
‘Belong’, featuring South Africa’s Unmute Dance Company and Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) dance troupe, will kick off the festival at the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) on 13 June.
‘Movement’ is a dance festival in three parts exploring themes of belonging and inclusivity this month, considering becoming and the youth in August and gender in October.
The festival is supported by the Embassy of France and the FNCC in partnership with the NTN.
“In Namibia, culture has long been at the heart of the relations between our two countries,” ambassador of France to Namibia Cécile Vigneau said at the launch.
“This partnership is also in line with another priority of the embassy: strengthening relationships between Namibia and Reunion Island located in the Indian Ocean. The Reunion Island is Namibia’s closest French territory,” Vigneau said.
“The project ‘Movement’ was selected by the French ministry of Europe and foreign affairs, which decided to allocate a budget of nearly 70 000 euros (about N$1.3 million). It will be carried out by OYO, with the support of the FNCC.”
Each performance will be accompanied by a workshop for professional dancers and final year dance students, a conversation at the FNCC, a performance in Katutura and a showing at the NTN. Additionally in August, ‘Movement’ will include a three-day seminar on how to sustainably structure the dance sector featuring special guests from France, as well as relevant local institutions and individuals.
“France has an extraordinary expertise, history and infrastructure in dance,” FNCC director Martin Beyer said at the launch. “Dance means innovation . Dance means interdisciplinarity. Dance is physical. Dance allows a new creativity which also means social engagement.”
Beyer said dance isn’t always as appreciated as other art forms and the festival is a move towards changing that.
“France counts two national dance centres in Paris and Lyon, 19 national choreographic centres and 16 national choreographic development centres, including one in Saint-Pierre, on La Réunion Island,” Beyer said.
“Via ‘Movement’, the French embassy and FNCC want to share this experience and expertise to promote and professionalise dance in Namibia,” he said.
“We received the special funding from the French embassy. We see dance talent here in Namibia. We see foreign dance companies ready to work with Namibia; thus we believe that there is momentum to (re-)launch a dance festival and to offer new perspectives to Namibian dancers, choreographers, and to the Namibian audience.”
‘Belong’, the first segment of the festival featuring Unmute Dance Company, will reflect on inclusivity in the dance sector during June, which observes International Albinism Awareness Day (13 June) and International Day of Deafblindness (27 June). Unmute Dance Company includes artists with disabilities and features world-class, professional integrated dancers.
“It will also feature renowned local OYO dance troupe premiering its first inclusive piece, ‘Hear me’, with seven guests with various abilities,” OYO director Philippe Talavera said at the launch.
“For me personally, this is important. While there is a push to develop the cultural and creative industries in Namibia, is this push tailored to accommodate our gifted artists with different abilities?” Talavera said.
“We look forward to seeing you at the FNCC for our conversation with Nadine Mckenzie from the Unmute Dance Company on 12 June at 18h00 (free entrance) and at the NTN for our first season of dance on 13 June.”
– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram, marthamukaiwa.com
