JOMBA! runs from 27 August to 8 September at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre in Durban before moving on to the Market Theatre in Johannesburg.
Acclaimed dancer and choreographer Robin Aulin will receive the Legacy Artist Award at the 26th annual JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Festival.
“The overall curatorial theme and provocation for JOMBA! Festival 2024 is 'Memory of Home' and I can think of no South African artist better suited to unpack both the simplicity and complexity of this in her work,” said Artistic Director and Curator Leanne Rootes.
The festival will pay tribute to Aulin's innovative, political and deeply-explored dance and theatre work, which he has created over four decades of dance-making in South Africa and the international community.
JOMBA! will run from 27 August to 8 September at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre in Durban, with a satellite festival from 11-14 September 2024 at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg.
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Celebrating the Artist
JOMBA! celebrates Aulin's vision and practice, wit, humor and insight, and his significant contributions to the country's rich contemporary dance history and heritage.
“Memory is about history, a sense of belonging, a sometimes suffocating nostalgia, and perhaps even envisioning a new future…Robin's work is all of these and more,” Root asserted.
Born in Johannesburg in 1955, Aulin has produced works that overturn dance conventions, often slipping into witty and biting political satire.
Her love of kitsch, tutus and yellow plastic ducks has created some iconic images that remain relevant in South African dance.
Orlin trained at the London School of Contemporary Dance (1975-1980) and then at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (1990-1995).
She began her career in South Africa as a dancer, choreographer and teacher, quickly gaining attention for the uniqueness of her dance-making and the chaos that dominates her work.
Her dance work Dad Not only does it ridicule the difficulties and shortcomings of the young Rainbow Nation, but it also casts classical ballet as a locus of discrimination, allowing it to tour Europe and gain international recognition.
Orin, who currently lives in Berlin, We wear our wheels with pride and paint your city with our colors… in 1820 we said “Bonjour” to the Devil A festival in collaboration with Moving into Dance.
It's a deeply personal piece, born out of Orlin's memories of visiting Durban as a child.
“Olin's work has not been performed in South Africa for many years, so we are extremely grateful for the support of IFAS (Paris) and IFAS (Johannesburg) and JOMBA! will be welcoming her back to South Africa as a JOMBA! Legacy Artist for 2024.”
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Finding your way home
Root said this year's theme for JOMBA! asks, “What does it mean to find your way home?”
“This year's JOMBA! takes place against the backdrop of local and global political renegotiations of what it means to be human, to belong, to have a home and to be a citizen of a country (and planet),” Root said.
“Against occupied Gaza, a devastated Ukraine, xenophobic right-wing political movements in Europe, and a unity government in South Africa hell-bent on power.”
Four selected local and international dance companies will travel to Johannesburg and the Market Theatre to perform in a week-long celebration of the world's most profound and inspiring dance makers and dance companies.
The dance companies selected include Deepak Kurki Shivaswamy from India, Yaseen Manuel from Cape Town and renowned South African dance company, JAZZART.
Gauteng audiences can enjoy four days of outstanding performances from this curated contemporary dance platform, along with free special workshops, from 11th to 14th September 2024.
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