DANCE TRUST OF ZIMBABWE

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND:

The National Ballet was formed approximately fifty years ago by teachers and lovers of ballet. It was, and still is, run by a committee of volunteers. The name "National Ballet" was chosen because, at that time, it was possible for the company to tour nation wide. The National Ballet was registered as a Welfare Organization in 1978. The original members of the National Ballet were dancers, teachers or persons, who were interested in furthering the cause and course of ballet in Zimbabwe. Affiliated to the National Ballet were "The Friends of the Ballet", who assisted to raise a large proportion of the funds required to buy the land a build the Centre.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE NATIONAL BALLET:

• Formation of the Classical Company
  

• Raising sufficient funds to buy the plot of land on which the Ballet Centre stands
  

• Raising sufficient funds to build the Ballet Centre, which comprises two studios, two office buildings, staff quarters and two containers, which store costumes, props etc.
  

• Paying for the building in total
  

• Extending the present office
  

• Staging performances of classical and other ballet seasons sometimes with international professional dancers as principal artistes
  

• Staging productions of "Starlight Dancing" and "Stars of Tomorrow", which provide all dancers with the opportunity to perform on a stage in front of an audience.
  

• Promoting dance through tours to other cities in Zimbabwe, films, workshops, lectures
  

• Sourcing funds and starting the Outreach Programme in 1984 as "Vano vano tamba'" - the children who dance.
  

• Sourcing funds to start Dance Training Courses, which gave young underprivileged Zimbabweans the chance to gain employment in the field of Dance
  

• Gaining international recognition for the Dance Training Courses held at the Ballet Centre in Harare and other Dance Training Courses.
  

• Forming the first professional dance company in Zimbabwe - the Tumbuka Contemporary Dance Company using suitable graduates of the first Dance Training Course - thus providing employment for young Zimbabweans
  

• Sourcing more funding to enable the Outreach Project to be expanded using graduates of the first Dance Training Course
  

• Collaborating with the Tumbuka Contemporary Dance Company to stage productions
  

• Collaborating with the Oslo National  College of Art Department of Ballet and Dance
  

    to the benefit of some of the pupils of the Dance Training Courses

• Collaborating with The Repertory Theatre to their and National Ballet's benefit.
  

When the Ballet Centre opened the National Ballet at first continued to focus on classical ballet. Later it was then realised that it was essential to take dance to the community as a whole, especially to the high- density suburbs. "Vana vano tamba" (children who dance) was soon launched in 1984- a project initially confined to children under twelve in Harare's high density areas who would otherwise have had no exposure to dance other than traditional.  The teachers went to various schools and a class was given on a Saturday morning to teenagers, who formed the City Youth Group. A few dancers, who showed potential, were awarded scholarships to learn ballet at a more advanced level from classical teachers.  

This initiative soon led to the first workshop of three months duration. So successful was this course that the training was extended and culminated in a formal three year Dance Training Programme specifically aimed at talented young schools leavers from economically constrained backgrounds. The course was free of charge and all students were provided with daily transport and lunch money. The first course was completed in 1992. The graduates were then employed either by the newly formed Tumbuka Dance Company, or the community based Outreach Team. This was an innovative and exciting move because of its employment creation policy and the possibilities for future expansion.

Since then, four further three year long Dance Foundation Courses have been successfully run, which has highlighted the interdependency of all three projects. The fifth Dance Foundation Course started in July 2008 and is currently running.

The Outreach Team has identified talented youngsters in the community, who were invited to audition for the Dance Foundation Course. Talented course graduates have been taken into Tumbuka as professional dancers. Tumbuka Company members are an integral part of the training course as they are involved in teaching the students on a regular basis, are disciplined role models, and inspirational leaders.

In 1999 two of the students on the Dance Foundation Course were offered a one- year scholarship with the Oslo National College of Ballet and Dance. The scholarships were extended by a further two years. Both of these dancers gained employment in the field of Dance in Europe. Since then six more students have benefited from these scholarships.

The Outreach Programme, that was initiated as "Vano Vano Tambo", developed into a formal programme with an Administrator and a Co-ordinator. Currently there are four teachers, one of which doubles as the Co-ordinator, who teach 4-500 children. The classes are given free of charge. We attempt to stage an Outreach Dance Festival every year to afford the children an opportunity to dance in public.

PRESENT SITUATION:

Owing to the present economic situation in Zimbabwe, the following items are required:

1.   DTZ's internet connection is very slow - we would very much like to upgrade it to Broadband
2.   Assistance with mounting seasons- choreographers/producers, costumes, hire of theatre.
3.   New sound equipment for the studios (Large and Small).  Ours is old and is deteriorating because of             having to be moved regularly for performances.
4.   Scholarships for dancers to gain experience outside Zimbabwe/ attend dance schools to gain      qualifications for teaching, examining and performing.
5.   New office equipment is required for all the projects to operate efficiently

GOALS:
    
1.   To maintain a high standard of dance in Zimbabwe
2.   To promote dance in all forms
3.   To keep the equipment, buildings and grounds in good condition
4.   To ensure that all the projects of the Dance Trust of Zimbabwe continue
     to function and hopefully expand.

NATIONAL BALLET OF ZIMBABWE

Committee

Chairman        - Trish Mckenzie
Vice Chairman - Christie Clayton

Committee Members
Eve Stranix
Gail Boardman
Natalie Bradbury
Faye Jackson
June Cloete
Carol Henchie
Mathias Julius
Natalie Lightfoot
Mitzi Carruthers

Company Dancing Members

Principal Dancer - Natalie Bradbury
Principal Dancer - Christie Clayton
Male Dancer        - Mathias Julius

Michelle Nativel         - Choryphee
Angela Klassen           - Choryphee
Sharlinda Fernandes - Choryphee
Timikha Fisher          -  Choryphee

Kara Lee Aves           - Senior Dancer
Debbie Frampton      - Senior Dancer
Diandra Moreira       - Senior Dancer

Core:
Lauren Bath
Aimee Nativel
Anastasia Lightfoot
Nicola Norton
Tanya Maclean
Hannah van der Nest
Sabrina Rivers

Junior Members:
Kilana Chohan
Alex Fleming