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Agulhas Theatre Works (ATW) is a Contemporary Dance Company based in Gauteng. This South African company of performers was established informally in February 1999 by FNB VITA award-winning dancer/choreographer/teacher Gladys Agulhas.
The company identifies dance as an educational process in one package, as an Art form in one package, which reflects the growing fusion of Integrated Contemporary Dance in South Africa. ATW's passion is also to work with a diverse group of Artist with different abilities and provides skills development, bringing Contemporary dance through Theatre performances, Educational Outreach programmes, Charity and Corporate Presentations to all. ATW is a member of Tshwaragano In Touch Dance Project - the umbrella body for integrated dance in SA.
About Integrated Contemporary Dance
Personal Experience
Being personally involved with the Tshwaragano In Touch Dance Company, a project of different physical abilities was an opportunity and learning experience to be able to work and performed with physically challenged dancers / performers. It has also opened my perspective once again to how conservative the dance industry is / has been and is only channelled towards the perfect body type. This once challenged me as choreographer / teacher / performer about the possibility to use dance as an explorative art form for the professional dancers / performer as well as the physically challenged. In this way the professional dancers / performers own creative impulses are enhanced, and they develop / explore their own personal movement identity and confidence. For years in society the physically challenge have been ignored but with integrated Contemporary dance, people with disabilities are in the forefront of dance /choreography /teaching, the barriers are broken and new challenges wait. This would be an opportunity for me as choreographer to activate my creative skills and work on collaborative dance performance work with young & professional people with different physical abilities and background, nationally and on an international scale.
Company Activities
1. Main stream Theatre & Corporate Performances:
- Company Seasons
- National Arts Festivals & other
- Collaborative Projects
- Charity Performances
- Open discussion:-Choreography with different abilities.
- Pre- / After Performances Talks
"Making movement visible"
- Skills Transfer for the Arts & culture Teachers
- Schools Visits.
Faculty
Company Manager: -Lorraine Sadan
Artistic Director/ Resident Choreographer/Teacher: - Gladys Agulhas
Tai-chi Trainer: - Mr Dawood Kruger
Production Manager
David Hlatshwayo, made his debut as Production Manager for ATW during the Grahamstown National Arts Festival 2003 tour. He also assisted in designing the lights for Gladys Agulhas
Solo -Safe Harbour for the Women's Arts Festival 2003 in Newtown, Dance Factory.
Company Members
Belinda Nagel is a freelance Independent Professional Dancer and is from Riverlea, performed internationally. She acquired her National Diploma in Dance from the Pretoria Technikon. Belinda made her debut as performer /Workshop facilitator for ATW during its first season in June 2000 at the Dance Factory, Newtown. During the FNB Vita Umbrella 2001 ,she was nominate in the category for most promising female dancer in
David Fumbatha is from Soweto and Completed his education at the Adelaide Tambo School for Children with Special Needs. He is a member of the SHAP (Self-Help Association of Paraplegics) Centre in Soweto. David made his debut as performer and Workshop facilitator for the Tshwaragano- In touch integrated dance Project in 2000.He travelled and performed with the Tshwaragano -In touch Integrated dance project at the "Celebrate South Africa Festival" in England. Later that year he performed for ATW first season in 2000 at the Dance Factory, Newtown.
Pascal Moloi, Dancer/Workshop facilitator /Sign Language teacher, Trained and studied Dance at Moving Into Dance, after completion of his course he joined the DEAF Theatre Performance Company, whereby they travelled nationally and internationally. Pascal made his debut as performer for an ATW during June 2003 at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival. He facilitates / teaches sign language to the Company and during Company Outreach programmes.
Delbrah Masanabo, Dancer/Teacher made her debut as performer for ATW in September 2003 for the Macufe National Arts Festival. She completed her National Diploma of Dance at the Pretoria Technikon, she trained in Jazz, Contemporary Dance, Spanish, Afro fusion and Ballet. She took part in the Graduation course offered by the former STATE THEATRE BALLET COMPANY and performed in the ballet "ROSALINDA "and several other production with the company.
Founder/Choreographer/Dance Practitioner and independent performer, nominee for the Daimler Chrysler Contemporary Choreography Award 2003. Gladys studied Ballet at a young age at Albertus Pop recreation centre in Eldorado Park south of Johannesburg. She continued her Dance training and teaching at the Johannesburg Dance Foundation where she completes her 3 year intensive course. Ex-senior dancer for the former Johannesburg Dance Theatre. She won her first FNB Vita AWARD in 1990 and was recipient of the Women's Day Award in Eldorado Park for the promotion of Arts in the community. Agulhas has a long history of involvement with Dance in Education, and is co-founder of the Kliptwon Arts Foundation a community arts project based in Eldorado Park, was involved in teaching at various institutions and companies in Gauteng. In 1999 she was involved in Shuttle 99, Dance Education Ex-change programme between the Nordic countries and South Africa. Agulhas also played a mayor role in the facilitating of Outreach programmes for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre during they visit to schools and community centres in Johannesburg.
In 2000 she won numerous FNB Vita Contemporary Choreography and Dance Awards recognising her work in Gauteng. She studied Integrated Contemporary Dance Teaching with renowned teacher/Independent Artist Adam Benjamin. And was rehearsal director for Tshwaragano In -Touch Integrated Dance Company 2000 /1 national & international tour.
Gladys also presented 'Solo" works for various functions such as at the Embassy of Finland, British Council, V-Day Monologues, Women Arts Festivals Gauteng & Durban's Human Rights Commission in Helderfontein.
She presented a paper in collaboration with Remix dance Project at the Confluence Conference in Cape Town on Choreography with Physical Challenge Dancers. And was also the recipient of the 2001 FNB Vita Dance Umbrella Young Choreographers Award.
She has also devised a "Special Training Programme "for the Golden Lions Rugby Union Academy & Referees Society 2002, and is still actively involve with the Union. Agulhas premiered her first international collaboration with fellow artist Louise Katerega(UK) funded by FNB Vita Dance Umbrella & Arts Council of England during the FNB Vita Dance Umbrella 2003.Her company ATW performed at the opening of the 2003 disABILTY Consultative Conference ACCESS-AWARENESS -ARTS at Museum Africa, and presented Integrated Workshops for the delegates. Gladys is a member of WoVA (Women's Voice Arts Africa) an international organisation based in Senegal, Africa, to encourage and support efforts of women cultural leaders and artist in Africa, she attend this African planning meeting in Senegal during March this year.
Her recent international travels to Switzerland & London included a residency programme of improvisation and Integrated workshop with renowned Independent Artist Adam Benjamin as part of her innovative determination to pursue her goal within the arts. Her company recently returned
from the Grahamstown National Arts Festival after a very successful season on its main programme.
A new collaboration with musician Louis Mhlanga made headlines during the Women's Arts Festival 2003 at the Dance Factory. She also currently worked on presentations for various Charity organisations such as "We are capable" a disability newspaper and Hospice home for the terminally ill.