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BY BILLY SUTER

A SPECIAL presentation of dance by high school pupils will be staged at The Hexagon Theatre, on the University of KwaZulu-Natal campus in Pietermaritzburg, at 7.30pm on May 17, 18, 20, 21 and 22.

The show, Funk 2019, marks the 20th production of this annual showcase for a collection of short, original dance works, a show presented by St Anne’s Diocesan College.

This year’s programme will feature dance items by pupils from Carter, Epworth, GHS, Hilton College, Howick High School, Maritzburg College, Russell, St Anne’s Diocesan College, St John’s DSG, St Nicholas, TWC and Voortrekker.

Funk evolved as an idea to create a dance programme for schools with very specific aims, explains the show’s director, Lynn Chemaly, theatre director at St Anne’s.

“The first aim was to unite schools in working towards a common goal; then to give drama students and their teachers the opportunity to create and rehearse pieces of dance theatre for public performance.”

Thirdly, she adds, Funk was introduced to enable young people to see that movement, dance and dance theatre is accessible to them and not only in the hands of professional adult dance companies.

“Perhaps most importantly of all, it was introduced to generate meaning and artistic integrity through dance choreography whilst challenging young people to work outside of their comfort zones,” says Chemaly.

“The task for each school remains constant: to create a six-minute piece of choreography integrating any type of musical or textual accompaniment. The programme accommodates a range of choreographic and performance possibilities and provides the perfect opportunity for schools to experiment with new forms.

“It is also important to emphasise that this platform is not a competition, and should not be seen in the same light as a sports festival or inter-house competition.”

Chemaly adds that the highlight of the annual production is always the mass group finale which incorporates all pupils together on the stage. This year, the finale will be a retrospective of music and choreography from 20 years of Funk finales, created by Joslyn Anderson and Anton Immelman.

Tickets for Funk 2019 cost R75 each and booking is at hexagon@ukzn.ac.za or by phoning (033) 260 5537.