Top KZN creative talents head for Cape Town
by Francesca Verga
Two of Durban's top creative talents are set to locate to Cape Town. Local choreographer and Director of Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre Jay Pather is to take up the position of Associate Professor in the Drama Department at UCT early next year. Soon-to-be ex-curator of the KZNSA Gallery and visual artist Storm Janse van Rensburg is to freelance and explore his role as artist in the mother city as well.
Pather can be credited with experimenting in a 'new' kind of choreography, intimately linking different forms of the arts. The Red Eye art event was, on more than one occasion, a creative playground for his work. Pather believes that the Professorship will afford him the opportunity to find new forms and complexities to explore. The link between academics and the choreography that Pather is renowned for will more than likely give rise to more award winning performances like Kitchen which won a merit award in the 2004 Brett Kebble Art Awards.He will remain Director of The Siwela Sonke Dance Company, which will continue to flourish under the guidance of Ntombi Gasa, Eric Shabalala and Neliwsa Rushualang.
Storm Janse van Rensburg has been curator of the KZNSA Gallery since 1999. He has served on various committees and gallery acquisition boards and initiated the Young Artist's Project (YAP) at the KZNSA Gallery, which serves to promote and platform young artists. His active role as curator and contributor will be hard to follow. Both Janse van Rensburg and Pather's contributions to the Durban arts scene will be greatly missed and we look forward to following their respective careers.
