The first intake of academy students, who were selected from stringent auditions earlier in the year, are already proving their worth under the professional guidance of Denay Willie with the assistance of director and performer Godfrey Johnson, choreographer Didi Moses and vocal teacher Ryta Zmuro.
Six months ago this non-profit organization was conceived by business partners Alison McCutcheon and Frank Gormley. Identifying that many talented young people lack the resources for tertiary training, the Rainbow Academy is a performing arts, life skills and hospitality programme that provides training and business skills.
What makes the academy so powerful is that each individual's strengths are identified by Denay Willie, herself a top jazz singer and performer, and their talent showcased in the production. Add the training that the students receive in hospitality and business skills and each youngster is learning that performing can be sustainable.
Valuable lessons in a competitive profession and the Cape Town Show is a superb example of the academy's mandate.
Written and directed by Denay Willie, the show is a musical celebration of the journey of our people. Passionate performances connect with the audience to form an emotional bond with our history. Offering an amazing way to understand this passage through the struggles, the persistence and charisma of our people, the show unfolds through the eyes of a new generation giving these young performers new insight into their past and present. Whilst providing inspiration to their peers they are learning to be proud of their heritage.
Clever dialogue, sizzling songs, many that are familiar icons of the struggle, and high-energy dancing from the students with the professional members of the cast, Willie, Dobs Madotveni and Josh Prinsloo who, together with musicians Jade de Waal and Justin Kok, are executed with aplomb and excellent timing.
Look around you as dinner is served and you will see these same students waiting at tables with a smile. Never mind that they were dancing energetically 10 minutes ago, now they are serene and polite as they make their way with piled platters of food to interact with the audience.
Already the show, which is ideal for families, has received extraordinarily positive feedback from both local and international visitors and local theatre organisations. Early in the New Year they will be offering schools special shows affording learners the opportunity to understand their history in this innovative way.
"The result of this first intake has surpassed our expectations," said Gormley and McCutcheon. "The talent is shining through and when you see and hear 20-year-old Nokubonga "Nonke" Manyawya, from Khayelitsha perform Pata Pata, you know that the academy is fulfilling its mandate. The mix of students has also resulted in many life lessons and whilst they hail from Mannenberg to Khayalitsha, Fish Hoek to Mitchells Plain, they have learnt that their values are all very similar and working together can make a difference in everyone's life."
Thye performances are at The Rainbow Room in Mandela Rhodes Place, Cape Town, every Wednesday and Friday from 7pm.
Cost is R295 per person, which includes a three-course dinner or R120 per person (show only).
Bookings: Central booking: 0861 632121 or call: Enquiries: Aoife Gormley +27 (0)71 820 4016/Jonathan Meyer +27 (0)73 984 6124.
For more information, go to www.capetownshow.co.za.
