Mamela Nyamzaaaaaaaaaaaa :-)

So...I should be studyin...but had to rave about Mamela Nyamza - yet again!
The more I read about her and her work, the more I am convinced of her status as one of the the ultimate artist activists.

awkward story...

I'm standing outside a theatre, just having watched "Hatched", Mamela's latest work. Its the last performance, so I decide to take one of the gorgeous A1 posters for my personal collection...just as I am taking the tape off of it...Mamela walks out...haha...awkward stalker status (tick)

If you ever have the chance to catch one of her works...do not hesitate!

Check out the awesome poster below to understand the reasons for my stalker(y)

sensational! (to quote one of my friends: I could have just watched her back)

News on previous artists of the week

Much has happened with previous artists of the week - it's a case of good news/bad news



RJ Benjamin: the prolific and incomparably talented musician has decided that his next album will be his final album. Such a genius - and a pity to lose his solo talents, but he will still be producing music for the future generation (insert self here ;-) lol )

Mamela (2nd from left) and the Standard Bank Young Artists

- photo credit: Suzy Bernstein

In fantastic news, Mamela Nyamza has won the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance! Cannot explain how happy I am for her, would do a happy dance en-point (if I could without breaking my ankle). Nevertheless, fantastic that SA is recognising the work of the fantastic artist. For more info on Mamela and the award, click here: http://www.artsouthafrica.com/?article=819

Tisch School of the Arts at NYU

wow - so much has happened since I last posted! Caught up in the world of being a post-graduate student in the arts!

Amazing and interesting things have happened in the past few months - and I am super excited about future plans, which include an application to the Tisch School at New York University for...wait for it...a course in ARTS POLITICS! Seems tailor-made for me, an artist activist course!

For more information about it, click here: http://app.tisch.nyu.edu/object/artspolitics.html

Reviews and general artistic-ness to follow

AMAZ!NG BEGINS!

Today is the first day of the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown and I have already seen some amaaaaaaaazing theatre.

Raiders of the lost Aardvark is in its 21st year (wow) and I was one of around 180 people who saw it this morning. What an absolutely sensational performance from the Ellenbogen bros. Simply hilarious, and the audience participation was uber fun.

Kyle de Boer's Umsenge dance theatre has impromptu street performances that literally made my day! Whats not to like about blue and yellow people dancing about on the streets, absolutely gorgeous juxtaposition of the angsty blues and the funny and clowning yellows! Will post some pictures soon.

Off to see Ama-no-gowa, Kaput and NATV later today...ah, 15 days of performance! What's not to like for a crazy performer who gets worked up about seeing Shaleen Surtie Richards in Pick and Pay, forgets her pin and almost forgets her purchases, whilst going fan-atic on the inside, and trying to signal that Shaleen is around to her best friend, but lands up looking like she has turrets? ah this is gonna be a great festival

FlashForward!

Khanya, Tamara Dey, myself and Kelly

SA bands are really and truly taking my heart and magnifying it to 10x its size. The music currently coming out of our gorgeous country is mind-blowingly good! One band I can't stop listening to is Flash Republic, an electro band fronted by the gorgeous and gorgeously talented Tamara Dey.

That pic was taken at Rhodes University's Trivarsity party where Flash gave a crazy performance! (Luckily on that day I was trying to back up a lil on my gushing and be vaguely normal chilled- which was aided by the fact that Khanya did all the talking and thus looked more like the obsessed fan than I did! Thanx Khanya!).

Certainly feeeeel goooood music! Their song "Twister" makes me happy no matter what state I'm in and I'm often prone to general craziness displays of happiness: dancing in the streets, on tables, in dept stores, in Pick and Pay, in lectures whenever I hear it!

Tamara has amazing style! Love her rockin red hair and rock chic/flower child/futuristic look (on a rockin body). She certainly turns heads and turns "robots red" as people stop and stare to quote Flash's awesome song "Robot"

(how awesome are those lashes?)

way too cool (turning more than robots red I see!)

the futuristic urban African

Check out Flash Republic here:

http://www.theflashrepublic.com/

David Tlale: Fashion Visionary

If type A personalities are hyper, I am definitely triple A. On a trip to Johannesburg last year I spotted David Tlale at the airport and absolutely died inside! David is an artist who takes risks, is dynamic and confident in his designs and truly presents world class couture on the runway. Would die to be at one of his shows. Anyway, back to the airport story. So I run up to him and gush (something that I am incredibly good at) about how I think he is an awe-inspiring, gifted and unique designer. He was so engaging and absolutely humble, and I left a bigger fan of David and David Tlale designs.

I am in such artistic love with David Tlale! He is a fashion visionary! His presentation and conceptualisation is just beyond.

His Autumn/Winter Fantastical Constructions collection shown early this year was truly inspired and such a blend of fashion and theatre. Instead of the usual runway show, it was more of an installation where all the models were arranged in a room on chairs, ottomans etc. It looked like a couture version of Madame Tussauds! He created a true theatrical event and fashion experience that ignited the senses!

Absolutely love Tatum Keshwar (Tatum + Tlale = gush fest of note)

Architectural excellence!

His construction excitese me so much. Swan Lake meets urban street style!

this model is working it!

Would definately sprinkle rose petals all over his front steps and give him 17 salutes while secretly hoping for an invitation to his show! I ♥ Tlale!

SHOUT!

I am super proud of Danny K and Kabelo's SHOUT initiative.

Celebrities are standing together to fight crime. It is great artistic activism that excites me sooo much, it's great to see celebs standing up for something so crucial and USING their voices and influence!

Plus, I love the SHOUT video (a cover of the Tears for Water song of the same name).

Check it out here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuFroEZpECo

Absolutely Scintillating dance: Mamela Nyamza

Mamela Nyamza, last weeks artist of the week is a true dance activist - speaking through her medium in ways that are often provocative and controversial, but at the same time beautiful and technically virtuosic.
The more I read about her and watch her choreography, the more I am entranced by her concepts, use of imagery and use of Western and African forms.

I couldn't be more excited to see Hatch(ed) at the National Art's Festival, a follow up to her previous work, titled: Hatch. Hatch was performed to rave reviews, with critics applauding Mamela's individuality, spellbinding stage presence and gifted dancing. Described as "a dance experience portraying critically-acclaimed Mamela Nyamza’s life story", Hatch is a deeply personal story about Mamela's personal journey as a Xhosa and  South African woman who asserts her ideas of what it means to navigate one's identity in such a context. Mamela is trully, as Drummond Marais writes, "a worthy member of our country’s burgeoning theatrical constellation".

Follow this link to check out her interpretation of the dying swan in an episode of Superstars of Dance. Absolutely sublime.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AswRJtS9_eg

Artist of the Week

With all the soccer madness that has been going on, this blog has almost turned into a soccer blog! blame it on the vuvuzela!

So back to the artistry of it all! It's a cold and cloudy day in Grahamstown and I'd invited friends over for a 3 course meal (channeling my inner '50s housewife/domestic goddess). We ate, laughed and listened to the most gorgeous jazz, namely the musical genius that is RJ Benjamin.

RJ Benjamin is this week's Artist of the Week!

More information about RJ is to follow in his artist feature.

Yours in artistry
Danni

Itumeleng You Beauty!

I am sooooooo immensely proud of Bafana Bafana! Our SA boys did us so proud yesterday! But this man, The gorgeously talented Itumeleng Khune was phenomenal yesterday. I'm naming my future son "ItumelengKhune"! One word. Done.

Off to watch Korea play Greece today at Nelson Mandela Stadium! Cannot wait! Will post many pics! Ke Nako!

Oh Alicia!

Absolutely loving the FIFA concert but seeing Alicia Keys in Africa and knowing that I am not there is making me the saddest person! haha. Would throw rose petals at her feet whilst serenading her in all 11 official languages!

FIFA Kick Off Celebration Concert

So the Kick-Off concert is taking place tonight! Having a get-together at my house to watch it! Wish I could be there, but alas 15 days of Amaz!ing awaits (National Arts Fest) so need to be rehearsing for that tonight! My girl Alicia Keys is performing, and would kill to see her live!!!

Like many of you know, more South Africans were added to the line-up after complaints that our local talent wasnt given the chance to show their skills (beyond 2/3 bands). Glad to see some of our legends up there, and new talent as well! Would kill to have the chance to see Alicia Keys live!!! She is my ultimate!!!

To all Saffas: Ke Nako! 6 years has culminated in this. Let our amazin musicians show their artistry to the rest of the world tonight!

Phillip it's here

You have to love Nandos for their amazing advertising! This one just made my day! Today I bought a Bafana Jersey! Super excited to wear it tomorrow and show my support for the boys.

Waka Waka: more soccer madness

I love the official world cup song Waka Waka by Shakira aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand Freshlyground!

Much rather prefer the 3D video because Freshlyground is actually in it (plus great players!

I have definately caught soccer fever!


Yours in excitement and artistry

DRIVE IT. ITS HERE!

AH YOU HAVE TO LOVE THE SOCCER FEVER! PEOPLE ARE GOING ALL OUT! THIS IS WORSE THAN MY KANYE GLASSES! ABSOLUTELY LOVING IT!

One of my favourite comedians, Trevor Noah, recently tweeted:

"People are running around saying "Phillip (feel it) it's here"...priceless

Ke Nako: Soccer Fever!

A while back a fellow blogger asked me why I love South Africa and I just had so much to say. I started to sound like a walking cliche for all the "alive with possibility", "proudly South African" and "rainbow nation" adverts, but I just couldn't help it. Now is the most exciting time to be a South African!

World Cup fever has gripped SA. Everywhere I look there are cars with flags and mirrors and people wearing Bafana t-shirts. I have never seen people so proud to be South African. I am now the proud owner of a pair of Kanye West-esque sunglasses (that I previously swore I would never wear because you can barely see through them). But they have the South African flag across them so I just HAD to buy them (famous last words, I know). I also ran around town yesterday trying to find a Bafana shirt - which I now also own! And before the end of the week much more will be added to the list! Nationalism is winning! I have also seen lollipops, every different kind of accessory and chewing gum being promoted using soccer (chewing gum? really? Well I can see how it relates to Alex Fergusen! haha).

I get to see a few games live so reallllly excited about that. Only bought the tickets a few weeks ago - the result of all the relentless soccer advertising finally getting to me. It was the one with the grandad telling his grandkid that "he was there" that really did it! I so wanted to say "I was there"! hahaha! So I will be painting my face, wearing my Kanye glasses and blowing my vuvuzela (that I have yet to own) with the rest of the soccer-mad masses!

But I have to think about the implications of this for the country. We know that the 1995 Rugby World Cup brought Saffas together, and I hope this cup will do the same. I can already see it happening. Call me an optimist, but its great to see South Africans excited about the country they live in, not complaining and having a little hope!

Yours in excitement and artistry

I'm going to Turkey ♥

In just over a month I get to visit Turkey for 2 weeks! Crazily excited!
Im going as part of the World Youth Congress (WYC), an annual event that brings together 1000 young people from all fields to discuss and work on important issues in the world through their various media (deep breath in - what a long sentence! haha!

The congress is just about the most exciting thing I have ever embarked on - because it draws together both my art and activism! This year it focuses on development - which is especially close to my heart being from what is refered to as a "developing country".

I cannot wait to post from Turkey and share my experiences whilst over there. Also, I get to visit Abu Dhabi on my way back (you can bet some serious serious shopping is going to occur! Did anyone say Jimmy Choo?!!!)

Yours in excitement and artistry

Almost time for Amaz!ng

The Grahamstown National Arts Festival (the 2nd biggest festival on the planet - in a small town in SA!) is almost here! This festival promises to be one of the most exciting - and there are so many amazing shows to check out!

I spent ages (of time and money) booking the first 34 out of the 63 shows I intend to see this festival! Hey, its "15 Days of Amaz!ng" so I am going to make the most of having some of the best performers and shows in SA right on my doorstep!

I'm also choreographing a work under First Physical Theatre Company in their show "New Voices". The piece I'm doing is called "Coloured Stand Up" and as you can guess is a comic dance work about coloured identity in South Africa (something I am verrrrrry passionate about and interested in, the existential crisis of AWEH! LOL!). Also, I have all kinds of new respect for comedians - stand up might just be the scariest thing I have ever attempted to do. The thing with stand up is that people come to your show to laugh, so if they don't laugh it is just incredibly awkward!!! But since it's all part of a choreographed dance piece, I suppose you can call it pseudo-stand up!

11 days til Amaz!ing!

Hoping to bring you some amazing pictures, reviews and info on all things fest!

Yours in artistry ♥

Beginning of an artistic adventure ♥

So...here we go!

Artist Activist is something that I have wanted to start for a whiiiiiiiiiiiiile now!!!

We have so many fantastic artists in South Africa (and beyond) who are doing amazing things beyond simply putting their gorgeous work in any kind of performance space - or who are using their work to say something interesting, valuable and intelligent.

Who is an artist you might ask? Here I'm not simply refering to fine arts (painting, sketching, etc) but to each and every artform: graffiti, performance poetry, all types of dance, directing, cartoonists...and the list goes on and on!

This blog celebrates all performers, theatre makers, musicians, fine artists who are making/beginning to make ground-breaking, innovative and exciting work in SA and globally!

Yours in artistry :-)