Curtain rises on Arts Alive

The rest of the month is going to be something to behold, if the opening night of Arts Alive is anything to go by. The performances were excellent and the atmosphere was electric.
A SPECTACULAR opening night set the tone for the rest of the Arts Alive festival. Best of the performances was a tough choice: there was the brilliant Pops Mohamed and the awesome disabled dancers of the Agulhas Theatre Works; or perhaps Timothy Moloi or Don Mattera’s specially commissioned poem.

MMC Chris VondoMMC Chris Vondo opens Arts Alive 2011The invited guests packing the glitzy opening at Braamfontein’s Fringe Theatre gave their approval to all of it. Chris Vondo, the portfolio head of community development, said about Mattera’s poem: “This beautiful piece, which pays tribute to Johannesburg, ‘Our City’, is something that we can all be proud of, and is just one of the many aspects of Arts Alive that will live on, and be the legacy of Arts Alive 2011.”

Arts Alive is a month-long celebration of music, dance, theatre, visual arts and everything in-between; it is, at heart, a party that Joburg and its national and international partners throw for residents – according to Steven Sack, the City’s director of arts, culture and heritage, it is “for everyone” in Joburg.

Moloi serenaded guests, who cheered for his lyric, “It’s in our hearts to keep the arts alive”; but it was Agulhas Theatre Works that brought the audience to the edge of their seats. They were blown away by the amazing work of the group of disabled dancers.

Sack noted that Arts Alive was about being inclusive: “It’s about giving opportunities to everybody who lives and works and plays and dances in Johannesburg, and what better way to start than the Agulhas Company.”

Pops Mohamed performs for the audiencePops Mohamed performs for the audienceMattera’s poem was beautifully rendered by Lesego Motsepe, the Isidingo actor, accompanied by the extraordinary music of Mohamed.

International partners
Consul officials from India, China, France, Cuba and others who will all participate in this year’s festival, were among the guests. Vondo officially opened the festival, noting that there were now 269 reasons to attend this year’s Joburg Arts Alive International Festival – to give it its full name.

He challenged Joburgers to go out in their numbers and attend at least one new show during the month.

“It is with great pleasure that I open the 2011 Joburg Arts Alive International Festival, on behalf of our Executive Mayor Parks Tau. I am sure everyone here agrees with me that a 25-day long arts festival in the month of spring is one of the real highlights of living in Johannesburg.”

For 19 years, the festival had played a vital role in fulfilling the City’s mandate to create social cohesion and position Joburg as a tourist destination and as a caring city. It also gave back to its community through many free events, he said.

Free shows
“Indeed, this year, there are 160 free shows within the full Arts Alive programme. Many of these, like the Alternate Space Theatre events and the seventh Inner City Drama Festival, are [in] those regions of the city where access to free arts is hugely important.

Agulhas Theatre Works provide a snippet of their showAgulhas Theatre Works blow the audience away with a spirited performance“Others, like Jazz on the Lake, which is coming up this Sunday, and Eldo’s Jazz on Heritage weekend, are a family-friendly way for Joburgers to gather together to celebrate all that is great about this city of ours.”

The City used the arts in its critical role in economic, social and urban regeneration and developing human talent, he said. “Joburg’s creative industry strategy is a powerful way to enhance the city’s profile, identity and distinctiveness, while simultaneously creating employment, developing human skills and generating social cohesion.

“It is against this backdrop that Arts Alive is also a strong contributor to job creation.”

He also took the opportunity to talk about Joburg’s ongoing consultative process, GDS2040, on its Growth and Development Strategy, explaining that it was engaging with its stakeholders and citizens to put in place a meaningful long-term framework to accommodate the views of all.

“The City’s Growth and Development Strategy engagements are underpinned by various themes, including the creation of smart, liveable and environmentally friendly city. Arts Alive falls perfectly under the theme of liveable cities.”