The Dance Factory

The main objective of The Dance Factory is to nurture, develop and promote innovation and excellence within South Africa dance theatre and movement through training performance and to do such things as are appropriate for the promotion, development and education of the public, with regards to arts and culture.

Vision

The ancillary objective of the company is to establish, equip and administer a nationally important dance centre, dedicated to training, performance and other additional dance theatre and movement related activities as a critical resource in the realisation of a viable and sustainable South African dance theatre and movement industry.

Objectives

• To identify potential dancers, theatre technicians and arts administrators from previously disadvantaged communities (PDI) with a particular focus on women and youth.
• To provide training for technicians to support choreographers and dance performances
• To provide training for arts administrators to support choreographers and dance performers
• To provide training for talented young people who wish to make a career in dance
• To research teaching methodologies appropriate to a South African context in order to effectively develop the training of young dancers and theatre artistes.
• To develop the necessary resources through the purchasing of equipment to:
• Elevate the level and quality of professional dance theatre performances
• Ensure ongoing training and rehearsal programmes
• Where possible to provide rehearsal space for local choreographers and companies at affordable rates
• Where possible to provide theatre performance space for local choreographers and companies at affordable rates.
• To facilitate opportunities to engage choreographers and dancers in the creation and presentation of performance seasons
• To market dance performances and performance programs with the intention to raising public awareness and developing audiences for South African choreographers and companies
• To administer and co-ordinate activities such as movement and dance theatre festivals, with the intention of providing performance opportunities for South African artistes.
• To work alongside and in partnership with other local and international organisations to further promote movement and dance theatre.
• To facilitate interaction with the international dance community through exchange programmes, performances and workshops.

Courses offered

The Dance Factory Youth Training Programme.

Course content

Contemporary dance and classical ballet. Classes are given by highly experinced professionals. International artists/ choreographers , when available , conduct workshops. Students present regula performances, created by leading Soth African Choreographers.

Fees

Non Paying Course. Training is funded.

What we offer the industry

We only graduate 2 to 3 students, between the ages of 18 and 20, a year. Most of these have been in the programme for at least 6 years, are proficient and committed to careers in Dance. They are often asked to guest for other companies, although the majority choose to continue with Tertiary dance training, both locally and internationally.

History

The main business of The Dance Factory is to facilitate the advancement of South African arts and culture. through skills development, capacity building, the nurturing of new and emerging artistes and the cultivation and promotion of innovation and excellence within the South Africa dance theatre and movement industry.

The Dance Factory was conceived by a grouping of dancers, teachers and choreographers from town and township, who identified the need for a communal space for Dance. It was formally constituted in 1992 and began operating in a venue in the City Hall. It moved to Newtown in 1994.

From inception, The Dance Factory offered classes for Children, but from 1998, with funding from the Royal Netherlands Embassy, a formal Training Programme was begun. Initially, the participants were members of township youth groups, but from 2003, the emphasis was oriented towards individuals.

Additional info

Our Student Profile
There is a core of students, ranging in age from 6 to 18. New students are accepted annually, subject to audition. We are currently working with 40 students.

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