IM Munity

Russian collaboration IM Munity takes to the stage

It's finally here. The collaboration between the Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative and two Russian choreographers is finally ready. Choreographed by Ivan Estegneev and Evgeny Kulagin, IM Munity features the cream of the dancers in a brand new full length theatrical dance piece that has been months in the making.

The two Russians are directors of the Dialogue Dance Company and School in Kostroma Russia, as well as founders of the annual Diversia International Festival of Dance Duets, and came to Johannesburg as part of the South African dance company's 2013 Artists in Residence programme. Estegneev is the Dialogue school's artistic director and participates as a stage director and a performer in many of the pieces produced by Dialogue. Kulagin is a director and choreographer at the company and also participates in a number of the theatrical pieces as a stage director and performer at Dialogue. They have participated in various international projects including Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative's Zebra (South Africa, Russia) in 2009.

Funded by The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF), The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative's relationship with the Russians dates back to 2008 when PJ Sabbagha, the founding member and artistic director of The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative, was invited to present Back, a duet he had created for the Diversia Festival. In 2009 Sabbagha invited Estegneev and Russian dancers to collaborate with Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative dancers on the massively successful production of Zebra - it was commissioned for the 2009 FNB Dance Umbrella and later staged on both the National Arts Festival and toured in Russia. This lead to Sabbagha returning to Russia in 2010 as an Artist in Residence. Sabbagha has been invited to present a reworked version of Back, from March 14 to 17 for the major Spring Celebration of Highlights taken from the Diversia Festival in Moscow. Back will be recreated for two male dancers from the Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative team to showcase the company's exciting celebration of contemporary dance in Russia.

The cast for IM Munity features various members of the Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative: Nosiphiwo Samente, Thulani Chauke, Fana Tshabalala, Thami Majela, Thabo Kobeli, Irven Teme and Charlston van Rooyen. The production of Immunity will take place on March 1 at 7.30pm and March 2 at 3pm at the University of Johannesburg's Con Cowan Theatre, Bunting Road Campus. Tickets cost R50 and students cost R20 and will be sold at the door. For bookings call 011 051 4785 or email az.oc.elgnanettogrof@ofni.

Date: 01 March 2013 to 02 March 2013
Time: 19:30
Venue: The University of Johannesburg, Bunting Campus, Con Cowan Theatre, Auckland Park
Cost: R 50 for Public; R 20 student

More info:

The University of Johannesburg, Bunting Road Campus, Con Cowan Theatre
GPS: S26 11 25.5 E28 01 09.5.