THE date is set and all dance lovers have been called on to circle August 20 to September 1 on their calendars for the 38th Port Elizabeth Dance Festival (PEDF).
The annual festival was founded by Jennifer Abrahams and Hermione Ballinger in 1981 to promote the love of dance.
Ballinger’s daughter, Nici Lovemore, who is continuing her mother’s legacy as the chairperson of PEDF, is also passionate about dance and aims to deliver a festival full of entertainment.
The dance festival will showcase a variety of dance styles, including ballet, contemporary, tap, hip-hop, Irish and African, and create a platform for dancers of all ages to gain and enjoy stage experience.
“My hope is that many Eastern Cape dance studios give their dancers the opportunity to compete and enjoy this fun experience. We aim to encourage all teachers and dancers of a wide variety of dance disciplines to participate,” said Lovemore.
This year, she has refreshed and relaunched the festival with a new logo, exciting new incentives for the top performers, as well as offering positive recognition for all participating dancers in the form of commemorative medals.
A huge coup this year is the confirmation that Delia Sainsbury, a well-respected and internationally recognised dancer, actress, television presenter and theatre producer at Cape Town’s Waterfront Theatre School, will adjudicate the 2018 PEDF.
An exciting incentive for aspiring dancers is the launch of the PEDF/Theatre Dance Association’s (TDA) Fabulous Trophy and Competition entry bursary for two talented dancers.
Sainsbury will select her choice of the two most fabulous dancers who will each receive the fabulous trophy and entry into the sought-after regional Move! competition in Cape Town in September this year.
This will include flights and accommodation for the two dancers and their chaperones.
Move! Cape Town showcases a broad range of dance styles and offers fantastic prizes and the opportunity to compete in the national competition in Johannesburg.
In addition to the many well-loved trophies and awards, every dancer will receive a recognition medal for their participation in the 2018 PEDF.
The festival will culminate in a glitzy gala celebration which will feature the performance highlights of the festival as well as the awards presentation.
The PE Dance Festival will be held at the Savoy Theatre from August 20 to September 1.
Dance teachers from all studios in the Eastern Cape are invited to register their students for the festival before Friday, June 1 with PEDF secretary Carol-Anne Cash on pedancefestival@gmail.com or 084 502 3300.
