South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAS) Best Soapie voting line open.

Date: 15 Fabruary 2011

Article: Madoda Ntuli

14 February 2011: The South African Film and Television Awards announces the opening of the Best Soapie Category voting line. The Best Soapie Voting line opens today 14 of February 2011 and will close on Friday 25^th of February.

As with previous years, viewers are encouraged to vote for their Best Soapie by sending an sms to 34877. The sms vote costs R2.00, and only 10 votes per number are allowed. To vote viewers are requested to type Soapie followed by Name of the soapie.

The SAFTAs are industry awards of which the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) of South Africa are the industry appointed custodians. The award’s main objective is to honour, celebrate and promote the creativity, quality and excellence of South African, film and television talent, and encourage entrepreneurship and the development of new talent in the industry.

The 5^th SAFTAs will be held at Melrose Arch at Madame Zingara’s Theatre of Dreams over a period of two weekends. The first event to be held on Sunday 20^th of February will award winners in the Non-fiction categories, followed by the second session - Fiction categories to be held on Sunday  27^th of February.

Released on behalf of the National Film and Video Foundation

Next month brings with it a red letter day for Gauteng’s dance community.

Date: 10 fabruary 2011
Article: Madoda Ntuli

Sibikwa Dance Explosion: Be a Part of the Action
Next month brings with it a red letter day for Gauteng’s dance community.
Don’t be caught unawares!

DIARISE MARCH 21st

The Sibikwa Arts Centre in Benoni South will be the venue for all things dance on Human Rights Day, March 21st. Dancers from around Gauteng are invited to participate in the Dance Explosion, an opportunity for new and established artists to showcase their work at Sibikwa’s recently refurbished theatre. This event was a tremendous success last year, with over 20 dance companies participating.

WORK WITH THE SIBIKWA DANCE COMPANY

Groups taking part will have the opportunity to work during rehearsal with members of Sibikwa’s Dance Company, which was nominated for an Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival last year. The two-year-old company, which has already toured nationally and to Mozambique, will also be performing new work at the event. This will be real treat for dance lovers, as the group already enjoys a nationwide reputation for creativity and flair.

“The Sibikwa Arts Dance Company continues to explore innovative new South African dance styles, merging Asian forms with an African sensibility,” says Artistic Director Phyllis Klotz, “The company has an exciting programme for the year, including working at Goethe on Main and the Arena platform at the Grahamstown Festival. There will also be lecture/demonstrations in schools, and community work and performances at festivals nationally.”

A WORTHY LEADER

This year, The Sibikwa Arts Dance Company will be headed by Thabo Rapoo, who was the recipient of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for 2008/9.
Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of this vibrant dancer’s career is that it grew “from the street up”. Thabo started dancing with a Pantsula group in the mid-’80s, although it was a three-year diploma in Dance at the Johannesburg Dance Foundation that would unleash his potential by exposing him to a wide range of styles. His professional dance career began in 2002, when he entered two works at the FNB Vita Dance Umbrella. These were well-received, and earned him the prestige he needed to further his craft.
Thabo’s work has not only been enjoyed in Gauteng, but has taken him to the Grahamstown National Art Festival - and as far afield as Italy, Austria, Luxembourg and Sweden. He frequently holds workshops in South Africa and Botswana, and is on an unending mission to foster new and upcoming talent.

In addition to this tireless terpsichorean’s various postings in dance education, he has choreographed openings for prestigious TV shows and expositions, and has performed internationally - including in Indonesia, where

Penny Mtya releases Afro Jazz Gospel Album

Date: 08 fabruary 2011
Released by Kwathole Connexion

new African Jazz Gospel album titled ‘iThemba lam’ My Hope. Less word describe Penny Mtya-earthy, jazzy, afro velvet deep tone yet elegant voice with a very spiritual background. She has managed to work with successful Oscar Award soundtrack nominee and SAMA winner Phinda Mtya, her younger sister. Penny’s deepest desire remains to reach out and embrace the soul of her beloved country through sincere and dedicated song. Like an African elephant, she keeps on walking, spreading the good news.  Having been in the music scene for more than two decades and never gave up on her dream; ultimately Penny Mtya has landed with a 9 tracks full gospel album. Already the Album is blazing South African airwaves. Penny is the member of Universal Gospel Choir and has toured Africa spreading the message of love, peace and hope.

 Born in Eastern Cape, her performances master the standard of South African Music, purely Gospel. Inspiration comes from Shirley Caser, Miriam Makeba, Hlengiwe Mhlaba and S’fiso Ncwane. Through determination, hard work, discipline and an iron-will to succeed, she overcame the disadvantage of her semi-rural background. In the 80’s Penny recorded a Vocal Jazz album with Musa Manzini and Tebogo Mloto. Age is nothing but a number to the vivacious Penny.  She is back with the new fresh African Jazz Gospel sounds.  Her music appeals to the young and old with Xhosa clicks of blended marabi sounds yet gospel flavour. Album recorded at 247 Records featuring great musicians and sound engineers, Patrick Jack, Quincy, Makathi Molekwa and Lungisani Masondo.  The younger sister Phinda Mtya-Matlala and Morgan Matlala produced the Album.

In celebrating February the month of Love, Penny Mtya will be spreading the message of Love with her hit song Mthande. ‘Mthande’ Thy Love, track 3, simple a plea to give love to the fullness and admire God’s great eternal love with no boundaries.  ‘Jordaan’ a dance tune yet a revelation of one way closer to God, followed by Malibongwe-a gratitude song with an adult feel. The album is available on stores now. 

The Johannesburg Philharmonic’s Orchestra’s first season kicks off on Wednesday 9 February

Date: 08 Fabruary 2011

The Johannesburg Philharmonic’s Orchestra’s first season kicks off on Wednesday 9 February.
Johannesburg concerts will take place on Wednesday and Thursday nights at the Linder Auditorium in Parktown. Selected programmes will be repeated at Unisa’s ZK Matthews Hall in Pretoria on Sunday afternoons.

The first three weeks of the season will see Emil Tabakov, the eminent Bulgarian conductor, composer and double-bass player, leading the JPO as well as a number of top international soloists. Maestro Tabakov is well-known around the world as a guest conductor and has an enormous repertoire featuring a variety of styles from classical and romantic to contemporary genres.

On Wednesday, 9 February 2011 and Thursday, 10 February 2011, the JPO will kick off its first season of concerts for 2011 with Rossini’s Semiramide: Overture and Mozart’s Symphony No.36, K.425, C major (Linz), and will be joined by pianist Michael Roll for Beethoven’s Piano Concerto, No.4, Op.58, G major.
Roll is one of Britain’s most distinguished pianists, who came to prominence at an early age and has since enjoyed a career that has taken him around the world, giving recitals and appearing with prominent orchestras. The programme will be repeated at Unisa’s ZK Matthews Hall at 3pm on Sunday, 13 February.
On 16 and 17 February, the orchestra will perform another Mozart composition, The Impresario Overture, K486, as well as Beethoven’s Symphony No.4, Op.60, B-flat major. Also on the menu is Haydn’s Cello Concerto, Hob.V11b:2, D major, featuring talented 25-year-old Belorussian cellist Georgi Anichenko, now based in Paris, who has won several international music competitions – including first prize in the Unisa International String Competition.

The following week, on 23 and 24

February (as well as on 27 February at Unisa), it’s the turn of Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Overture, Saint-Saëns’s Introduction & Rondo capriccioso, Op.28, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol, Op. 34. Accomplished and highly decorated Bulgarian violinist Svetlin Roussev will make a special appearance, performing Ravel’s Tzigane, Rapsodie de concert for Violin & Orchestra.
Join the JPO for some choice musical encounters of the classical kind in 2011! The Wednesday and Thursday night concerts at the Linder Auditorium start at 8pm, and the Unisa Sunday concerts start at 3pm. Tickets are available at Computicket or at the door. For more information, call 011 789 2733, e-mail info@jpo.co.za or visit http://www.jpo.co.za/.

Nominees of the 5th SAFTAs were announced at an event graced by industry professionals, government officials,

Date: 28 January 2011
Article: Madoda Ntuli

Nominees of the 5th SAFTAs were announced at an event graced by industry professionals, government officials, awards nominees and celebrities. The event was held at the Ster-kinekor Theatres complex at The Zone in Rosebank.

The SAFTAs are industry awards of which the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) of South Africa are the industry appointed custodians. The awards’ main objectives are to honour, celebrate and promote the creativity, quality and excellence of South African, film and television talent, and encourage entrepreneurship and the development of new talent in the industry.

"The NFVF congratulate this year's nominees and wish them all the best for the main event where all winners will be revealed. The NFVF, the SAFTAS Committee as well as the judging panel are amazed at the support the awards received this year. Eighteen (18) feature films were submitted to contest in the 5th SAFTAs, tripling the number of entries in this genre compared to last year's awards," says Eddie Mbalo NFVF CEO. Mbalo further emphasised that the increase in the features entry is testament that the industry is indeed thriving. "With commitment to supporting the industry by the Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile, we are guaranteed that the industry will grow to its full potential as a business sector and an economic contributer to the country."

Leading the movie pack with eleven (11) nominations in the Feature Film category is Life Above All, followed by Spud and Jozi with six (6) nominations each. Life Above All’s (eleven) 11 nominations comes as no surprise given its popularity on the international platform, and was recently named in the top nine contest for the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 83rd Academy Awards. The film began to garner recognition at the 2010 Cannes International Film festival.

In the Soapie drama genre, Isidingo is on top with ten (10) nominations. The soapie, broadcast on SABC 3 is followed by e-tv’s Rhythm City with six (6) nominations. However, 7 de Laan (SABC 2), which was voted by the public as the Best Soapie during the 2009 awards, failed to impress the judges, only receiving one nomination for Best Ensemble in a TV Soapie.

"Once again it was a pleasure to officiate during the judging process. The judges all took on board their responsibilities and the process was efficiently managed by the NFVF. Congratulations to all the nominees and we look forward to the awards event, says Paul Raleigh, the SAFTAs Chairperson.

The 5th SAFTAs will be held at Melrose Arch at Madame Zingara's Theatre of Dreams over a period of two weekends. The first event to be held on Sunday 20th of February will award winners in the Non-fiction categories, followed by the second session which will award the Fiction categories to be held on Sunday 27th of February. "We are very excited about the event this year. The process of the past 9 months from call for entries to the judging process and now the run up to the event has been a labour of love for all concerned and hosting the awards in the Madame Zingara Theatre of Dreams will be a delightfully daring experience," says Azania Muendane, NFVF Head of Marketing and Public Affairs.

Judging panels made up of industry organisation representatives, institutions, companies, media and general society select the nominees and the eventual category award winners. The judging process of the SAFTAS is overseen by independent auditors Pricewaterhouse Coopers who ensure that the process is fairly undertaken.

Location Cappello, Parktown

Location Cappello, Parktown
15 Wellington Road next to Mike's Kichen and Engen garage
Johannesburg, South Africa

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Created By Rethabile Mohlala

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More Info Dame Concepts and Cappello, Parktown Presents "Frequancy
Nites (Joburg)". Featuring the Following DJs DJ Ankletap (UJFM)
Baltimore (TSHWANE FM) DJ Rethabile (TSHWANE FM) DJ Tshepo (CLUB DJ)
and more!!
Guest Appearance: eTV News Reporter - Tumaole Mohlaoli (He just came
back from Sudan January 09 Referendum assignment)
Host: Rethabile
Dress Code: Dress to impress
Damage: FREE...invite your friends as well
Prizes: They will be giveways, get there early!!
Parking: Is available

Casper de Vries LIVE - Gaan Groot...en gaan huis toe

Date: 26 January 2011


The ever controversial Casper de Vries, master of Afrikaans stand-up comedy, will be performing in the Joburg ProMusica Theatre in Roodepoort during February. De Vries will bring his new Afrikaans stand-up show, Casper de Vries LIVE – Gaan groot… en gaan huis toe to the West Rand from 11 to 19 February 2011.

The last time De Vries performed in this venue in Roodepoort was in 1998. His upcoming show therefore offers his fans and audiences on the West Rand the ideal opportunity to see him ‘live’ again.

This time it is only Casper (without his other comedy characters), his microphone and a strong dose of attitude. After 25 years on stage he is “bigger and rounder” than ever.
The show is a combination of his razor-sharp wit and comedy, polished to perfection. And he spices it all up with his accurate observation of newsworthy events and universal issues. Casper is in no way treading lightly. His comments are always the cause of various discussions, and with Gaan groot he promises to take on a variety of controversial topics.

As a bonus he will also include a series of language lessons in his own unique comedy style. Included in the ticket price will be a special class in English, Afrikaans and Dutch sayings and translations that will have his audiences crawling in the aisles with laughter. Even long after the final curtain!

Don’t miss Casper LIVE in this limited season from 11 to 19 February 2011.
Make sure to book early and avoid disappointment. Phone Computicket at 083 915 8000 or visit http://www.computicket.com/. Or visit the Joburg Promusica box office.

VENUE: Joburg Promusica’s Main Auditorium
DATES: February 11th – 19th
TICKETS: R150 – R170

 WARNING: This show has an age restriction of 16 for language and (adult) content.