Masterclasses 2010

At our regular Masterclasses, professional artists are invited to come and share their knowledge and experience with mixed groups of music project participants from Ocean View, Masiphumelele and Fish Hoek.

The first one, in May 2010 at the Ocean View Civic Centre, was led by Godfrey Johnson, master musician, singer and pianist. He focused on warm ups and mic technique, and discussed ways to deal with nerves and communicate with an audience.

Masterclass May 2010 Godfrey Johnson

Godfrey Johnson’s Masterclass to mixed group of participants

In July, sound engineer Willem Moller shared his expertise with a mixed eMzantsi crew of sound operators.

In the women’s month of August, vocalist Ernestine Deane came to Living Way, Masiphumelele to inspire our girls to claim their space! We were particularly pleased how Ernie’s intervention empowered some of our shy girls to step up significantly in the months that followed.

Masterclass August 2010 Ernestine Dean

Ernestine Deane inspiring our girls to sing out and everyone to share their stories

 

In October, Zimbabwean reggae artist and theatre director Teba Shumba energetically motivated a very large group that gathered to hear him in Ocean View to challenge themselves to push their limits.

Masterclass October 2010 Teba Shumba

Teba Shumba challenging our groups to recognise that you are only limited by yourself

Baboons Masterclass

In November 2010, physical theatre specialist Jacqueline Dommisse of Hearts and Eyes Theatre Collective was asked to give a Masterclass in movement to the Fish Hoek skateboarders and Masiphumelele dancers who had volunteered to play the part of baboons – eMzantsi’s version of the trickster of global carnival tradition. On Carnival day, the baboons made a huge impact on the crowd as they led the parade causing mayhem with their daring skateboard tricks and squirty water bottles…

Jacqueline Dommisse coaching Fish Hoek skaters and Masi dancers in monkey movements.

The recycled baboon masks were made by Junkanew.

 Comedy Masterclasses

From September-December 2010, local stand-up legend and longterm eMzantsi volunteer Mark Sampson ran a weekly comedy Masterclass with the aim of mentoring alternative MCs for the Carnival show as well as enabling eMzantsi project participants to expand their skills and earning capacities. (Previous graduates of Mark Sampson’s Cape Comedy Collective Comedy Lab include Loyiso Gola, Riaad Moosa, Kagiso Lediga, Conrad Koch, Kurt Schoonraad, Stuart Taylor, Nik Rabinowitz, Mel Jones, Tracy Klass, Tshepo Mogale and Khaya Dlanga.)

More than 15 participants took part, whittled down over four months to five outstanding individuals. All of them did professional gigs over the season, with Luke and Leo reaching the Heart FM comedy finals, Ricardo and Leo obtaining MC work, Fatima being interviewed on SAfm and in the False Bay Echo, and all of them performing at club gigs across the city.

September in Fish Hoek
October in the eMzantsi office

November performers at the Brass Bell comedy nights