Press: 14th annual Baxter Dance Festival now calling for applications for 2018 festival

The annual Baxter Dance Festival will take place from 4 to 13 October 2018 and choreographers, independent dance-makers, dance studios, schools, companies and groups, are now invited to apply to be part of this year’s programme. Applications close at 5pm on Monday 30 April 2018, so performers are urged to get their applications in as early as possible.

The 2018 Baxter Dance Festival consists of the Main Programme which will include invited and commissioned works, as well as work by established professional choreographers and companies and runs for the entire festival. The Off-Main Programme, on Saturday, 6 October, will showcase the work by up-and-coming choreographers (including student work), and the Fringe Programme on Saturday, 13 October, will include work by youth groups, dance schools, school groups, traditional dance groups and others.

The festival is the premier dance event of its kind in the Western Cape and has become a must-see platform for studios, companies, choreographers and dance-enthusiasts. Notwithstanding its limited funding, the festival continues to grow significantly every year, making it the ideal festival to experience the diversity and enormous dance talent in the province.

The Baxter Dance Festival aims to create opportunities for emerging and established dance companies and choreographers to present their work, while nurturing and promoting the diverse dance talent in the province. The festival creates the ideal environment to experience and see work by established professionals, as well as exciting up-and-coming dance practitioners.

The Baxter Theatre Centre provides a comprehensive production package to participants, including lighting, sound, technical assistance, publicity, box office facilities, printed programmes and pre-show rehearsal arrangements, making it an efficient experience for contributing dance groups and companies.

Previous choreographers of the commissioned work are Ebrahim Medell (2005), Marlin Zoutman (2006), collaborators Yarisha Singh and Celeste Botha (2007), Levern Botha (2008), Mamela Nyamza (2009), Carolyn Holden from La Rosa Spanish Dance Theatre (2010), Grant van Ster (2011), Ananda Fuchs (2012), Steven van Wyk and Thalia Laric in 2014, Louise Coetzer of Darkroom Contemporary in 2016 and Themba Mbuli in 2017. These choreographers have continued to make their mark in the world of dance, both locally and abroad with both Themba Mbuli and Darkroom Contemporary having been to the 30th Dance Umbrella in Johannesburg this year.

Since its inception in 2004, well over 500 local choreographers have showcased their work at the festival, featuring close to 5000 dancers from more than 400 studios, dance schools, projects and professional companies from across the Western Cape, presenting an array of dance styles and genres including contemporary, classical, African, modern and Spanish.

Application forms are available from www.baxter.co.za or www.facebook.com. For further information about the festival, please contact Nicolette Moses, Artistic Director of the Baxter Dance Festival on 021 680 3964 or email baxterdancefestival@uct.ac.za. Only electronic applications will be accepted. All applications must be received by 5pm on Monday 30 April 2018.