First Physical Theatre

Outreach, Development and Community Engagement

RESOURCES AND MERCHANDISE

First Physical has an on-going production and distribution of educational and research materials. These include two educational packages, containing information and DVD recordings of two works, Bessie’s Head (which has been included for study in the FET curriculum) and Red Crushed Velvet, as well as various DVD’s, CD’s, manuals and a CD-ROM. The Company has completed filming of a new educational DVD, Choreography for the Camera, which is an educational DVD for learners and educators, focusing specifically on the art of choreography and the tools and skills involved in the company’s approach. This DVD is currently being edited and packaged and will be ready for sale in September 2010.

YOUTH COMPANY

The First Physical Youth Company was established in 2005 and has continued as a crucial aspect of the company’s broader Outreach and Development Plan by providing creative and performance opportunities for local teenagers, predominantly from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. Since 2005, the First Physical Youth Company has been auditioned in February of each year, from schools across Grahamstown and consists of between ten and fifteen dancers between the ages of twelve and eighteen.
The company for 2010 is drawn from local Grahamstown schools: Archie Mbolekwa High School, Diocesan School for Girls, Mary Waters High School, Nombulelo High School, Ntaba Maria High School and St Andrew’s College. The company members attend weekly classes and are involved in the creation of new productions which are performed locally and notably, at the National Arts Festival as part of the New Voices platform.

APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME

First Physical Theatre Company’s apprenticeship programme encourages the development of apprentices who work closely with the company to develop skills in performance, choreography, teaching, and technical production. Apprentices are generally engaged for six months to a year and receive a subsistence fee to cover living expenses during the apprenticeship. An apprenticeship with First Physical Theatre Company includes:
• Daily technical classes with the resident company
• An active role in the creation of original choreographies
• Professional performance experience and training
• Experience in teaching dance, educational and choreographic skills
• Experience of technical and administrative duties

OPEN CLASSES

First Physical Theatre Company is firmly committed to the advancement of contemporary dance through education and development. Our community skills project, BodyForms, is administered by company members and all classes (6 per week) are facilitated by the members – a total of 182 classes annually. These classes include Ashtanga Yoga, Pilates and Contemporary Dance and are offered throughout the year. There were 110 participants for 2009, and by April 2010 the membership numbers have increased to 140 members. The Makana Municipality sponsors some local community artists to benefit from these classes. The income from this programme goes directly to employing the Bodyforms co-ordinator Ms Levern Botha.

RESIDENCIES, EXCHANGES AND WORKSHOPS

These are devised to address the learning and teaching needs of a range of beneficiaries including dancers, educators, professionals and school learners. Programmes have included a range of workshops for the general public, school learners and community artists. The general aims of these workshops are to,
• Provide an experience of a new and different kind of physical expression
• Expose learners to leading innovative professionals working in South African theatre and dance
• Provide knowledge and skills for teachers under-equipped to implement arts and culture curricula

First Physical Theatre Company is regarded as a centre of excellence in the teaching of choreography - both Professor Gordon and Ms Finestone-Praeg have been involved with international educational and choreographic institutes. Residencies have been conducted in New Orleans, Johannesburg, Durban, East London and Grahamstown, while workshops have been conducted in schools in the Eastern Cape (Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth), Western Cape (Cape Town) and Gauteng (Johannesburg).