FESTIVAL OF FAME – EXPRESSIONS OF HERITAGE

From Feb 25 – March 2nd the National School of the Arts will showcase its inspirational emerging talent during its annual flagship event, The Festival of Fame. Now in its twelfth year this highly anticipated event on the school calendar sees NSA Learners and Professionals joining hands in a celebration of art, drama, dance and music!

A Heritage Theme has been imaginatively woven into the content of this year’s festival: Festival of Fame – Expressions of Heritage. A year before our democracy turns 20; FOF is an invitation to start the celebrations early with this six-day festival reflecting South Africa’s dynamic cultural heritage.

Festival of Fame – Expressions of Heritage, will see the creative precinct at the top the Braamfontein Hill alive with activity, extending from the National School of the Arts, to Constitution Hill to the Joburg Theatre. The NSA, all three Joburg Theatre venues, The Mandela, The Fringe and the space.com, as well as Constitution Hill will host Festival of Fame Productions.

Opening the six-day program on an exceptionally high note in The Mandela Theatre will be the highly acclaimed Songs of Migration featuring 2013 Grammy nominee Hugh Masekela. This production from Sibojama Theatre returns to Johannesburg after a successful international tour, which included performances at the Kennedy Centre in Washington and the Hackney Empire in London. For five memorable performances, learners from the NSA will share the spotlight with seasoned professionals in this special FOF Season. Award winning director, actor and storyteller, James Ncgobo has re-directed the work to give the NSA learners their individual moments to shine. Songs of Migration marks a special collaboration between experience and youth and announces a special relationship between iconic musician Hugh Masekela and the National School of the Arts. Songs of Migration also features the ever-popular Gloria Bosman.

A rich heritage of dance styles will be given grand exposure during Dance Spectrum also at home in The Mandela Theatre. Choreographed by Manuel Norambuena and Sarah Hurter Minkus Variations celebrates the traditional classical ballet heritage. Pictures of Africa is a dramatic contemporary piece choreographed by Lauren Jones. In a clever confluence of cultures, Gillian Bonegio uses the rich rhythm of the kwela as inspiration for her Spanish program, which also includes Flamenco Tangos danced to Raul Bonegio’s atmospheric guitar and vocal accompaniment. Guest choreographer Gregory Maqoma from Vuyani Dance Theatre brings his signature choreographic style to the NSA in his staging of two movements from his critically celebrated, The Four Seasons.

Hauntingly beautiful and featuring the NSA Drama Department learners is Wesley Swain Lauder’s production of The Secret Garden in The Fringe. The Music Department’s African Reflections conducted and directed by Jana Barnard features the NSA’s forty-five-piece orchestra and thirty-voice choir. This eclectic musical journey through our history shows that the soul and heart beat of our heritage lies in our music.

In a significant celebration of our heritage, both in paying homage to the ancient San and in celebrating the perception shifting work of Sylvia Glasser, the NSA will host five performances of Tranceformations. Ever willing to enrich the learning experience, Sylvia ‘Magogo’ Glasser will conduct a special introductory lecture aimed at the dance students who study this iconic work as part of the syllabus.

The NSA will see over 40 productions including workshops exhibitions and more than 10 visual arts workshops and installations over the week of Festival of Fame.

The FOF Monday- Friday’s programme is designed with school groups in mind. R80 per child affords a full day of performances, workshops, and exhibitions adding a memorable dimension to the Arts and Culture curriculum. It provides what is often the only opportunity for disadvantaged youth to experience art, music, dance and theatre first hand, by offering free tickets and transport to a number of under-resourced schools. Artists on the FOF Daily program include: Omphile Molusi, Richard Antrobus, Gera Louw, Francois Le Roux (Ha!Man), the hilarious Matthew Ribnick, Tristan Jacobs in a piece directed by Andrew Buckland, John Jacobs, Craig Morris, Briony Horwitz, Nkosinathi Gaar among others.

Alongside the featured NSA productions and professional performances, the NSA learners will present their own burgeoning original work. Showcased Drama productions range from psychological thrillers, to cultural commentaries. The music department offers a visit to the legends of yesteryear and fashionable Doo Wops will have your toes tapping with music from the 70’s and 80’s.

The Visual Arts program features the “Host a Legend” series, with David Koloane, Kagiso Pat Mautloa, Patrick Rorke, Charles Levin and Janene Fourie in exciting exhibitions, discussions and installations alongside NSA Learners. Watch their creativity in action during the week and admire their finished creations on Saturday 2 March. FOF 2013 also includes an encouraging number of NSA alumni on the program eager to give back, to share and to further the vision of the school. The Ballet Hall will host the popular Alumni Art Exhibition.

2013 marks the inaugural Festival Finale Day on Sat 2nd March. With a breathtaking panoramic view, the NSA field will be a vibrant buzz of craft, cultural food, music, dance and street theatre! The NSA Lab and Assitej SA Family Venue will feature content curated by Artist in Residence Kyla Davis. Shadow Puppetry, ingenious street theatre from the Lunatic Fridge, Craig Morris and his Amazing Dr Seuss, Daniel Buckland and a Circus Skills Workshop, Causing a Scene Improv Group with some of the finest and funniest performers of our City including James Cairns, Toni Morkel and Lindi Matshikiza are just some of the professional highlights of the Finale Day. Other activities include drumming and dance workshops, a variety of music and fashion on the Coca Cola Truck. The aim of the Festival Finale Day is to offer the finest choice of quality productions to cater for all ages and all tastes! The NSA drama students will shine in their original works, their physical theatre, their student pantomime and of course in the Secret Garden, which also forms part of the Festival Finale! Every theatre space will be showcasing dance, drama and music! Every gallery will be an explosion of visual delight! This will be a day for everyone - art lovers, families, students and professionals. A celebratory day to share in our glorious artistic and cultural heritage! The Gates will open at 10am and close at 6:00pm with a performance from the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Jazz Ensemble. In response to the Heritage Theme and the NSA’s association with the great Hugh Masekela – the Jazz Ensemble will play a special Masekela tribute in a program that incudes many South African favorites!

A Day ticket costs R 80.00 and affords access to ALL productions seating permitting.

The Festival of Fame – Expressions of Heritage comes to an end with the NSA learners in the spotlight as the Music and Dance Department join forces for the Double Bill African Reflections Meets Dance Spectrum. This gala finale will ring the curtain down on Festival of Fame 2013 on the stage of the Mandela Theatre.

And when it is finally down, the learners will celebrate the week with a well-deserved U-Party hosted by the NSA.

Without out our sponsors this festival would not be possible. With special thanks to RMB Bank and ABI for their continuing contribution to the nurturing and development of our young artists.