Weekend diary: Jazz, theatre, dance and more at virtual National Arts Festival
What’s more, there is a whole world of vFringe to explore with new Fringe shows being added to the vFringe platform right up until the end of July 2020.
Back to the new releases and what you can do live on the Virtual National Arts Festival programme this weekend? Here are a few highlights for Friday, Saturday and Sunday
FRIDAY 3 JULY
Give Friday Night Lights a new meaning by catching this installment of artists at this year’s festival online.
QUANTITATIVE TEASING
The Edge in partnership with MVG Productions (v-Fringe, Watch anytime)
Multiple-award-winning Daniel Mpilo Richards performs this collection of sketches from his previous shows, State Fracture and Land Acts, written by Mike van Graan and directed by Rob van Vuuren.
STANDARD BANK YOUNG ARTIST FOR JAZZ
Sisonke Xonti (jazz, on demand)
Xonti’s first album Lyonde was perhaps a reflection on this musician; urban, melodic and super smooth, but still deeply rooted in his culture. He has since lived up to that body of work, and then some.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION WEBINAR
11am: Digital transformation and e-commerce for artists and Theatre practitioners, a workshop by Steve van Wyk (live webinar/workshop)
This webinar will unpack how to approach your own digital transformation, by examining its four major components: business process, business model, business domain, and organisational culture.
TOGETHER APART
Film/performance art (on demand, watch anytime)
Stripper and artist Nico interrogates intimacy as performance while trapped in an art residency under lockdown conditions.
SATURDAY 4 JULY
No fireworks but put a spark in those Saturday afternoon plans and synchronise your heart with the South African cultural beat.
DIM-DEP MUSICAL
The Sound of the Beaten Drum by the Sagiya Foundation (V-Fringe, watch anytime)
Dim-Dep, an acronym for “Drums and Indigenous Music Development Project”, is the sound of the beaten drum, used here as the face of environmental success.
This piece of musical edutainment focuses on the conservation of natural resources and sustainable living.
LESEDI: THE RISE OF LULU MLANGENI
Dance documentary (watch anytime)
Being awarded Standard Bank Young Artist for Dance in 2020, rewards Lulu Mlangeni’s endless growth in her craft and this is her story It’s set to inspire you all, no matter your passion.
THANDISWA MAZWAI
Jazz (on demand, watch anytime)
Watching this icon grace the festival stage should be a goosebumps moment. Defying categorisation, her sound incorporates African traditional, jazz, Afrosoul and house.
WRITING WEBINAR
2pm: Algorithmic Autobiographies (and Fictions): Writing with your Digital Self (Live Workshop)
Have you ever wondered who Facebook really thinks you are? This workshop invites participants to creatively engage with their data-selves as we discover our algorithmic identities on social media.
SUNDAY 5 JULY
For the first time in its 46-year history, the National Arts Festival was held entirely online for the ultimate virtual celebration of South African arts.
GIVE ME A MIC, I’LL SHOW YOU MY HEART
(V-Fringe, watch anytime)
Give Me A Mic, I’ll Show You My Heart is a classic story of the unfolding of a past relationship: a fairy tale in the beginning, complicated in the middle and, in the end, there are tears and heartbreak.
STANDARD BANK YOUNG ARTIST FOR THEATRE
6pm: Jefferson Tshabalala – live theatre show
This dynamic and multi-layered 2020 Standard Bank Young Artist for Theatre, Jefferson Tshabalala approaches the online space with the wit, invention and playfulness he brings to all his work.
Tshabalala will be presenting J.Bobs Live – Seen Pha kwa J.B! It’s described as “a sketch/a faux concert which plays out as a collection. Of Prose. Of Poems. Of Plays.” Don’t miss it!
MI CASA
Jazz (on demand, watch anytime)
Since their inception, Mi Casa has taken South African audiences by storm. The soulful trio combines live horns, vocals and keys with deep soulful grooves to create a sound and energy on stage like no other.
STORYTELLING WORKSHOP
1.30pm: Personal Storytelling by Kit Beukes (live workshop)
Artist Kit Beukes leads this workshop which will focus on how to tell personal stories meaningfully and effectively through the medium of comics.
Don’t forget to browse the VFringe Virtual Art and Virtual Green – it’s free to look!
Visit the National Arts Festival website and remember, once you have your festival pass or tickets, you may still enjoy the shows until 16 July.
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