Week 2 !

This week saw the start of Joanna Bridge the company’s new Education and Development Administrator. Joanna recently graduated from Roehampton University with a BA (Hons) Degree in Dance Studies and I am looking forward to working alongside a fellow Roehamptoner over the next few months!  With a full house in the office there is already a buzzing atmosphere, as we are all working hard towards the Spring 2012 Tour! I am learning more each day and thoroughly enjoy experiencing the work of a professional organisation within the dance sector. 

My second week with the company has been exciting, busy and inspiring! The week started with a production meeting for ‘Sensual Africa’ and I had the opportunity to meet Rosie Jacobs the costume designer and Antony Hately lighting manager. It was a great to be involved within the decision making process and get an insight into all other elements of the work and how they will come together to support Bawren’s vision of the end result.    

                                            

 

  

Jenny and I also had the opportunity to go into the studio and have a look at what Bawren and the dancers have also been up to. The movement is developing and there is a clear reflection of the complex and distinctive tribal movement interpreted from the Tumbuka and Chewa Tribes. The dancers have been working on traditional African dances and I was completely engrossed by the strong punching and stamping actions combined with disturbing music! I am stunned by the dancers stamina and ability to perform such fierce and powerful movement.  You can see Bawren’s enthusiasm and excitement for the work that is being produced and his trip to Malawi is emphasised and displayed through the company’s technically outstanding dancers. (Dates for ‘Sensual Africa’ are now up on our new website for a sneak preview visit www.tavazivadance.com – full website coming soon!)

I myself will be attending and observing company class soon and will keep you updated with my experience. The company offers classes for professional dancers and students who are close to completing their full time training (degree level or equivalent). The classes are led by Artistic Director Bawren Tavaziva, guest ballet teachers or one of the company dancers.  Bawren’s class combines the aesthetic line of contemporary dance with the rhythmical patterns of African Dance. For those of you who would also be interested in attending company class and would like further information for all class dates please email admin@tavazivadance.com with an attached CV and look forward to seeing you there!

Laura

                                   

My first week with Tavaziva Dance!

Hello there, I’m Laura and this will be my first week working as a Marketing and Admin Assistant for Tavaziva Dance! I have recently graduated from Roehampton University with a BA(Hons) Degree in Dance Studies and since graduating I have become the co- founder of ‘ImpelDance’; a contemporary dance company based in the South of England. Each week I will be giving an insight into the job role and what it‘s like to be working for a professional dance company.  I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with such a talented group of people and hope to learn and grow throughout my 5 months with the company.

My week so far has flown by and I have loved every minute of it! Working within close proximity of the dancers and Bawren has given me a clear insight into how they work as a team and it is apparent that there is a real sense of closeness and support. Having the opportunity to work with professionals on a day to day basis has already given me an outlook of what the company needs and strives for in order to succeed. Tavaziva are one of only 57 organisations to be accepted for continuing support from the Arts Council England, displaying the continued success of the company and impact the company has already made on the UK dance scene!

The company are currently working towards the Spring 2012 tour of ‘Sensual Africa’ and it is thrilling to be involved within the creative process. I spent part of an afternoon in the studio watching duets for the new piece and was completely in awe! The work so far is physical, sensual, powerful, and there is a sense of intimacy between dancers. African beats are heard throughout the music creating an atmosphere and emphasising the stimulus of the piece. Even watching just a small snippet of the work, I can already see it forming quickly and Bawren has got a clear direction of where he wants the work to go.

The days are already filling up on the calendar and I am excited for what is to come over the next few weeks. I have already had the opportunity to liaise with venues and help to promote the winter intensive lead by Bawren over the 20^th,21^st,22^nd December (for more info please go to http://www.tavazivadance.com/ or email me on admin@tavazivadance.com). Week two is quickly approaching, so watch this space for my next post and I look forward to sharing the rest of my experience with you!

Laura

Sponsored Drum - A BIG Success!!!

A massive THANK YOU to everyone who donated to last week’s sponsored drum event and to everyone who was able to attend. 

It was a BIG success! Artistic Director Bawren Tavaziva managed to drum for the entire hour and our beautiful dancers entertained the small audience with excerpts from the new piece ‘Sensual Africa’.  John Baraldi CEO at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre where the company are based acted as the official adjudicator and counted down to the start of the event.   The small audience were treated to some sweet rhythmical percussive sounds from Bawren’s traditional drums. Bawren shared  the space with his spirited dancers, before they retired to the wings  in order for the full beat to once again be felt and heard by the audience.   The minutes ticked away with ease as the rhythms began to build, it was almost trance like.

The energy in the room was incredible as Bawren’s drumming gained momentum; the audience showed their support and appreciation with cheers, chants and swaying from side to side in their seats.  With only ten minutes remaining the dancers returned to the floor as Bawren’s drumming got louder, the dancers showed off their energetic free-style dancing with the Tavaziva classic twist.  Jackie Richards from the 60+ Creative Dance group gave an impromptu dance which added to the celebratory feel of the evening. Jackie was then joined by another member of the 60+ group, the energy and excitement was great as the dancing continued lifting the spirits.  John Baraldi was then joined by the dancers and the audience as they began the ten second count-down which ended in raptures applause as Bawren had completed the task in hand and drummed non-stop for the entire hour!

Bawren was incredible and kept everyone captivated his hands were very red and sore at the end of it but he ended the event with a big grin on his face...clearly pleased with his achievement.

We raised £965.61 in total which will all go towards the cost of live music for our Spring 2012 Tour of ‘Sensual Africa’.

The whole company have been overwhelmed by the level of support we received for the event, your generosity is very much appreciated!

We do hope that you will get to see the full performance of Sensual Africa when it tours next Spring.  Tour dates coming soon! 

Click on link below to see some footage from the event,

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

Being an Apprentice Dancer with Tavaziva Dance by Ellen Yilma

My experience so far as an apprentice with Tavaziva Dance has been a huge insight into the professional life of a dancer. With only three weeks to learn ‘Double Take’ for the Autumn Tour and for it to be performance ready at the Déda Theatre in Derby was a challenge, and an intense start to the year with the Company.

Every day we begin with class, most days taken by Bawren or ballet by Denzil Bailey or another company member; each session always a thorough physical workout to start the day pushing you to your limits. The pace of the classes are quick and dynamic and I am learning a lot by observing the company’s level of commitment and strength when approaching Bawrens work.  After class we would go straight in to rehearsal as there is much to learn for the apprentices in the ‘Double Take’ piece which is great! As well as class and rehearsal, for the past three weeks Bawren has also set aside a short period of time each day to develop the apprentice dancers. This has already been an extremely beneficial introduction, as the additional personal feedback has helped me to develop and focus on my individual dance quality as well as other areas for improvement.  

The company ethos is one that is always striving to develop and to go even further and I have enjoyed being a part of this. The work is physically demanding but the atmosphere in the studio is always enthusiastic and supportive from start to finish, creating an extremely encouraging environment. In addition, the management and artistic team are also very helpful and friendly and it really feels like a small family unit working together to achieve the same artistic goals and I feel welcomed as part of the team!

After three weeks the company travelled to Derby to begin the tour. Soon after arriving we were warming up for the tech rehearsals which were quick and efficient and having not danced in the full lighting states before there was a lot to take in and to remember for the evening’s performance. The company were very helpful guiding the apprentices through the spacing and lighting cues and we ran each half full out with both sound and lights for the first time. Before performing I was very nervous but I could feel everyone in the company willing each other to do well and there was a great energy back stage which made me feel confident.

Petros and I also went back to Derby to teach a workshop to a group of University students. This was a great opportunity to teach what I have learnt with the company so far. We kept the workshop lively and physical and we received a great response from the students particularly when learning the repertoire sections from ‘Double Take’.

My first performance went really well and although there are areas I am aware I need to work on and improve, after a short rehearsal time I’m happy with how things went. The company give off an amazing energy in performance and it was exciting to experience this and to bounce off and I look forward to the rest of the tour and to further my performance along the way!

Ellen Yilma

October 2011

Summer Intensive @ the Bernie Grant Arts Centre

Last week saw the company host its summer intensive at our home the Bernie Grant Arts Centre, where we are company in residence. This three day workshop aimed at students, graduates, professional and aspiring dancers, followed on from two single day intensives that had proved successful earlier in the year. The company wanted to once again give dance enthusiasts the chance to work with Bawren and his dancers, and we were keen to extend the project over three days, so that participants could really immerse themselves in the Tavaziva style.

Kicking off bright and early Monday morning, Artistic Director Bawren put the participants through their paces from the word go with a typical Tavaziva style technique class! Following this the dancers learnt company repertoire and were led through a series of creative and choreographic tasks. I had the opportunity to observe some of the creative work on Monday afternoon, and in a corner of the studio, I sat and watched Bawren as he instructed the dancers as they contorted their bodies into a sequence of shapes – creating a series of movement snap shots, sharp, precise and strong.  

(Participant hits a shape)

Each day saw a progression from the last, with the dancers gaining more understanding of the way Bawren works and the kind of movement that is produced in the studio. Day three ended with a sharing of the work created, with an invited audience from the Arts Centre and Enterprise Building at Bernie Grant. It was great to be able to share what the company does with other centre users, and displays the opportunities that are open to us and the centre through our company in residence status.

(Bawren leads the participants through an exercise in class)

The feedback from the three days from Bawren, the participants and audience was all very positive. Tavaziva Dance’s Education Programme continues to grow and develop and we hope to continue to offer opportunities like this to aspiring dancers out there as often as we can. So watch this space!

“The workshop was amazing; the final day was when I was really discovering Tavaziva’s vocab”

“I really enjoyed working with you this week...love your material........think it’s brilliant!”

“We really valued being able to share the work we had produced with an audience”

(Workshop participant’s feedback)

Tavaziva Dance @ The Bristol Harbour Festival

The sun shone brightly on Bristol on Saturday, as the 40^th Harbour Festival brought the bustling city alive in an explosion of art and culture.

Originally named the Bristol Water Festival and starting out in 1971, “it marked a key moment in the transition of the harbour from a working dock to the vibrant focus of culture and leisure that is has become” (Simon Cook, Cabinet Member of Culture and Arts, Bristol City Council – quote taken from Festival Programme). Now one of the largest festivals of its kind in the country, it brings together a collective of artists from around the local area and way beyond, showcasing their talents in dance, music, drama, and circus skills as well as including an impressive market offering everything from food to art. Visitors can also enjoy a walk along the harbour to take in the flotilla of vessels lining the dock, their brightly coloured flags gently blowing in the summer breeze.

This year the festival carried on its name as one of the most successful dance festivals in the South West, and partnered with national dance agency Swindon Dance, brought a diverse and entertaining line-up of youth, community and professional dance companies to the Dance Village. As a company Tavaziva Dance also continued its long-standing relationship with Swindon Dance, as the agency invited them to be a part of this exciting weekend, as one their headline acts.

(An image from Double Take used for the festival publicity)

As I stepped out of Temple Meads Station, I could sense a real buzz in the city, and followed the hoards of people as they meandered their way down to the waterfront. Arriving at the Millenium Square where the main stage was located, I had time to take in all the assorted sights, smells and sounds, as well as catch two other performances taking place on the main stage. The first was by Tolo Ko Tolo, a fusion company who “explore contemporised African diaspora dance forms with traditional African dance, drums, kalimba, guitar and voice”. Next was Movement Collective, a Bristol based company working in a “variety of contemporary styles to produce highly physical and accessible dance and theatre performances”.

After enjoying what these companies had to offer, the MC then gave a very generous and warm introduction to Tavaziva Dance, describing the company as being renowned nationally and internationally, and as also naming them as one of her favourite companies – what an introduction! The three dancers (Katie, Anna and Petros) then took to the stage for their 15mins slot, an extract from the current repertoire Double Take. The dancers looked as strong as always, even though they had had just 3 days prior to rehearse the piece (which they had last danced way back in March) and edit it from a full length work to just 15mins. This was also the first time they had been onto the stage, and so had no idea what to expect of the floor and space. They coped just as expected and gave a solid performance, with Bawren’s stirring music ringing out from the loud speakers. Just an hour later, and after taking in some more of the festivities, I was back to watch take two – the company’s second slot on the main stage. It was great to see how the dancers coped this time round: having now adjusted to their space and surroundings, the dancers gave a much more vibrant, slick and confident performance.

(Petros, Anna & Katie getting the audience going!)

One of the highlights of the day for me was seeing how the audiences differed between the two slots – there was a steady flow of people wandering to the main stage and away again, choosing to stay and watch all of or just bits of the performance. And I think that’s what makes performance opportunities like this so unique and exciting: the diversity of the crowd means Tavaziva Dance is reaching much wider audiences. All kinds of people, differing in age and ethnicity, who probably would not have seen the company otherwise, had the chance to see Bawren’s unique fusion of contemporary and African dance and enjoy the delights of three of our powerful dancers. I left the company to have a well deserved rest, before they would be back on Sunday for two more performance slots; and to once again reach a new audience of people. As I made my way through the crowd, I overheard a lady as she approached Bawren and said, “Wow, what lovely choreography. Well done, that was great. And that’s my culture for the day!”

(Up on the big screen!)

Don’t worry if you missed this performance, you can see the full length version of Double Take in theatres across the UK this autumn. See our website for full tour dates and venues: http://www.tavazivadance.com/html/company.html

(posted by Jenny Hammond, Administrator & Education Manager)