The Dream Team! Miracles we can do, the impossible might take a bit longer!

Cape Town Carnival have employed more staff to help this dream come alive.

On our community facilitation and engagement side, Robert Davids and Stephen Wetmore have been hard at work speaking to most of the main performing arts groupings that will be core to us creating this new platform of collaboration in Cape Town. They have inter alia been speaking to the gospel choirs, the Minstrels, the Western Cape Dance Teachers Association, marimba bands, the South African Drumming and Bands Association, Cape MIC, VANSA, PANSA, to give you but the headlines. Robert and Stephen have facilitated a myriad of different community engagement initiatives and has vast experience. Their presence in the team has already made a massive difference. An added bonus is that Stephen is passionate about the arts as well as very connected, and in Robert we have our own dancer and musician. What a fantastic combination!

Then my pillar of strength has arrived in the form of my Chief Operations Manager, Edmund Beukes. Edmund has extensive experience from inter alia his years as "Die Burger"'s marketing manager. He has dived into the deep end pursuing budgets and suppliers and detailed planning with the city. He is a great addition to the team and above all, has a wicked sense of humour (which I'm sure he's still going to need) and is inspirationally making sure that we get to gym, so that we can be in top shape for the Carnival. All round, I wouldn't want to do the Carnival without him.

Then of course, the angel in the team is Dezre. Dezre Little has extensive event management experience as well as tourism experience and will be taking care of all administrative management matters. So she is the lady that will be ensuring that all goes smoothly in the office. As I do not think I was present on the day that admin skills was handed out, Dezre is a lifesaver. She is also super sufficient, so if you ever deal with her, make sure that you know what you want, because she can almost pre-empt you and get it done, even before you ask :D

Dezre in her free time is also a fine artist!

We'll be adding some more members to the team as the year go through, but join me in wishing the team all the best. They are going to be part of this miracle unfolding!

Cape Town Carnival has offices!

To be honest, we've actually had it for quite a while now, since February. But times have been a little bit insane... and we've been very busy. So apologies for the late notice Cape Town!

The Cape Music Industry Commission, one of our strategic partners, has been kind enough to provide us with office premises and Media24 donated some. Thanks Peter and Adri!!

It is based on the 3rd Floor, the New Space Theatre, Long Street 44 and is abuzz with activity on a daily basis.

The New Space Theatre is a fantastically creative environment with Africa Centre, the actual Theatre, iKapa Dance studio and a few other creative ventures all congregated in the same building. You will always run into some creative soul in the passages and you can stay on top of a host of new plays, dance extravaganzas and cultural events at the same time. Sometimes I catch myself singing to the music of someone rehearsing or the music that is often heard on the staircase - for the faint-hearted, word of warning, we'll get you fit up the 3 storey staircase (no lift), to make sure you are ready to party the night away in 2010.

We have a brightly coloured office, with our pride and joy, the beautiful crystal chandelier... So pop in if you ever come past.... however, be warned, we might just involve you in this beehive of activity!

Some more photographs can be seen here on our Facebook site! Join today!