More than 50 entries to feature at the Baxter Dance Festival

Nicolette Moses, associate producer and planning manager responsible for the festival, said: "It's the perfect environment for dance enthusiasts to experience and see work by established professionals, as well as up-and-coming dance practitioners. The festival is here to showcase and celebrate the Western Cape's rich and prolific dance history, the people who have influenced it and those who are making their mark for the future."

Dance enthusiasts can expect to see performances from Cape Dance Company, Amalgamated Artists, Dance for All, Wilvan School of Dance, Jazzart Dance Theatre, Remix Dance Company, La Rosa Spanish Dance Company, Free Flight Dance Company and Brigitte Reeve Dance Company among others.

The festival includes works by well-known choreographers such as David Krugel, Michelle Reid, Christopher Kindo, Roseanne Maile and Mavis Becker, Adele Blank, Douglas Griffiths and Shaun Oelf, and Dada Masilo. Joburg-based Masilo will perform The Bitter end of Rosemary.

One of the performances in the Main Programme category this year, is Grant van Ster's commissioned piece, Paradigm Shift, which was selected from entries for the festival's Commission category, and will be performed daily at every Main Programme. Van Ster has presented previous works while still a member of Jazzart and currently works as a freelance dancer and choreographer.

Three categories now

Moses said that one of the changes to this year's season is that the Dance Festival will now have three categories. The Main Programme features work by established professional companies, including newly commissioned work as well as invited choreographers/companies, namely Cape Dance Company (David Krugel's choreography), Sibikwa Arts Dance Company, Nicola Elliot, Dada Masilo. This programme will be made up of various works of different lengths.

The newly introduced Off Main Programme will showcase the talents of young emerging choreographers and student work.

The Fringe Programme includes work by youth groups and dance schools, school groups, traditional African dance groups and choreographers requesting their work to run on this programme for practical reasons. The Fringe Programme usually features great options for younger dancers and kids, offering variety for the whole family. There will also be a sight-specific work performed in the Baxter's foyer by Darkroom Company choreographed by Louise Coetzer.

The Off Main Programme, which takes place on Saturday, 8 October, from 2.30pm, will showcase young up-and-coming choreographers and student work. The Fringe Programme from 2.30pm on Saturday, 15 October, will include work by youth groups and dance studios.

Tickets are available at Computicket on 0861 915 8000, online at www.computicket.co.za or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet countrywide. Ticket prices for the performance categories are: Main Programme - R75, Off-Main Programme - R50, and the Fringe Programme - R30.

For discounted corporate or block bookings, senior citizens and charities, contact Sharon on +27 (0)21 680 3962 or Carmen on +27 (0)21 680 3993 during office hours.

For more information, go to www.baxter.co.za, www.facebook.com/BaxterTheatre or www.twitter.com/BaxterTheatre