South Africa’s premier Integrated Arts Platform will present a display of collaborative artistic works by artists with mixed-abilities (with and without disabilities) and from mixed genres (music, dance, drama, visual art, etc.) in celebrating the International Week for People with Disability to be held from 28 November to 2 December 2017 at Artscape Theatre.
This year’s Unmute ArtsAbility Festival’s theme is ABILITY, presented by Unmute Dance Company in association with Artscape Theatre Centre. It is the end product of residencies and workshops that have occurred during the months of October and November. Professional artists and/or arts and culture organisations (dancers, actors, musicians, visual artists, photographers, film-makers) in collaboration with people and/or artists with various impairments (blind, deaf, intellectual, physical and psycho-social) will research and investigate in rehearsal studios “what ability means?” for people who are stereotypically perceived as “unabled”.
Festival kicks off
The festival will kick off on 28 November with the launch (open to the general public) to be followed by the French duet performance TORDRE by Rachid Ouramdane, presented by the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and the Alliance Française du Cap. In the performance, world renowned dance-maker Rachid Ouramdane sets out to achieve the documentary feel which has brought him international popularity. TORDRE is a story of the Lithuanian dancer Lora Juodkaite who, spinning dizzingly on the spot, has developed her own way of moving which has accompanied her since childhood. It also features British dancer Annie Hanauer, moving with an articulated prosthetic arm which is at the same time both an extension and an integral part of her body.
On 29 November two dance pieces, Access Me and Nothing Makes Sense take centre stage. Access Me, performed by Yaseen Manuel, Nadine Mckenzie, Rae’ Classen and Andile Vellem and choreographed by company members of Unmute Dance Company, is a photo story and short film by Darkroom Contemporary formed through documenting ideas and emotions around accessibility and hopes to communicate real opinions about what accessibility means. Nothing Makes Sense, performed by Thulani Chauke and Lionel Ackerman and choreographed by Thulani Chauke and Unmute Dance Company, is an interrogation of violence with a specific focus on the violence that emerges because of our continued human obsession with systems of classifications based on sex, race, gender, sexuality, class culture and physical ability.
Fun and exciting programme for youth
1 December is International Day for Persons with Disabilities, and includes a fun and exciting programme aimed at South African youth. Unmute has given a performance platform to their education programme which will witness learners and dancers with mixed abilities (disabled and non-disabled dancers) being integrated through the performing arts. Taking part in the production will be Astra School, Dominican School for the Deaf, New World Dance Theatre Trainees, Jazzart Dance Theatre trainees and Jika Madinga trainees. The free event will be followed by Ability Talk, an open discussion with a panel of influential people with disabilities who will be discussing their achievements and struggles.
The festival will then wrap up with a showcase of professional works by Unmute and Friends which is aimed at creating friendships beyond the borders that separate us. This event will be held on 2 December. On the stage will be Sibonelo Dance Project, (Un)shared (by Day Apart Dance Collaboration), Nothing Makes Sense (by Thulani Chauke and Lionel Ackerman) and Access Me (by Unmute Dance Company).
The six-day festival is inclusive of theatre performances, site-specific performances, artistic installations, exhibitions, film screenings, seminars and disability walks.
What: Unmute ArtsAbility Festival
Where and when: Artscape from 28 November to 2 December 2017
Book: Computicket
WS
