Community groups gear up for 2011

Cape Town Carnival’s Community Facilitator Angie Petersen is working with local community dance groups to polish up their performances for next year’s carnival to be held in Long St on March 19. Each group or ‘pod’ will have an average of 200 dancers all dressed in identical costumes and performing carefully choreographed dance moves.
Building on last year’s carnival, the communities are currently choosing music and brainstorming costumes and choreographing dance moves for the start of dance rehearsals which will take place in various community and church halls around the peninsula from later this month until the final dress rehearsals in March next year.
Angie says: "The groups are all sourcing their selection of songs, working on choreography and eagerly awaiting the Carnival's creative deptartment's dates for measurements of costumes. Everyone is excited, ready and keen to start rehearsals."The theme of this year’s carnival is Dream the Future and each of the pods will feature a float or moving art installation, 10 dream girls (with huge decorated costumes) and a pod of 200 dancers. Each pod will have its own music supply which will be playing the pod’s chosen music and in between the pods will be live performers including jugglers, stilt walkers, monocyclists, drummers, giant bubbles and confetti machines.
The community groups that are involved are:

Name of organisation Area Activity
AMY BIEHL FOUNDATION Khayelitsha Gumboot dancers
APHRODITE BELLY DANCERS Athlone/Strandfontein Belly dancers
AVONDALE DRUM MAJORETTES Atlantis Drum majorettes
BRIDGETOWN THEATRE COMPANY Athlone Choir/dancers
CAPE METRO MINSTREL ASSOCIATION Various Minstrels
DRUMBA DRUMMERS Strand Djembe drummers
GLEEMOOR LADIES CHOIR Belgravia/Athlone Choir
IKAPA DANCE THEATRE Hout Bay Street dancers
JIKELEZA DANCE PROJECT Hout Bay Pantsula dancers
PAS DE DEUX BALLET SCHOOL Retreat Ballet
LAUDATE LADIES CHOIR Ravensmead Choir
LIKHWEZI ARTS PROJECT Nyanga Vuvuzela orchestra
PALACE OF THE WINDS ORIENTAL DANCE THEATRE Various Oriental dancers
ST. JOSEPHS MARIST BROTHERS Rondebosch Marimbas
THE GAY COMMUNITY Cape Town
UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Kraaifontein Choir & youth brigade
TAFELBERG CHOIR - FAITH BASED ORGANISATION Kraaifontein Choir
VADHINI INDIAN DANCE THEATRE Rylands/Athlone Indian dancers
PETROLEUM AGENCY SA Tygervalley Dancers

Cape Town Carnival 2011 - The Route

The route that the Cape Town Carnival will follow in 2011 is similar to the route of this year but it will start two block lower down Long St (in Castle St) and end at the top of Long St.
This section of Long St, called the Carnival Corridor, it will be fenced off and marked at the entrance by a giant scaffold structure with lights, DJs, dancers and a few surprise performers. Likewise the top end of Long Street will have an exit structure with a stage, DJ and plenty of space for some of Cape Town's leading performers. The top end of Long St will remained closed until midnight for Capetonians to eat, drink and be merry in a street party similar to the one organised for the Final Draw of the World Cup in November last year.

Glitz and glamour at the Carnival Ball

It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to don a mask, put on a top hat and tails or that over the top designer ball gown and mingle with the cream of South Africa’s elite. A prestigious diner/dance will be the Cape Town Carnival Grand Ball at the Castle taking on March 18, 2011 and it’s your chance to walk down the red carpet, bask in the glow of the crowds and papparazzi and even have your grand entrance recorded live on national television.
You will have the chance to rub shoulders and make contacts with South African celebrities – be they sports stars, political figures, financial leaders or leading TV and film stars.
Guests will park their cars at a Park and Ride area, where they will be greeted by Carnival dancers in exotic costumes. Each guest will be handed an individual handcrafted mask which has been created by Cape Craft Design Institute and then travel to the Castle either by carriage, or a vintage car. The roads to the Castle will be lined with circus performers, fire dancers and an amazing light show.
The guests will walk along the corporate Red Carpet and proceed to inside the Castle. It is here that the press and spectators will capture their ideal photo and there will be short television interviews with some of the guests and celebrities. Once inside the castle walls, guests will be entertained by class acts throughout the evening.
Guests will be greeted by waitrons in costume and seated at their tables. Champagne and fine wines will be served. A selection of buffet food will be served by costumed characters throughout the evening.
There will be live music and acts, an MC and DJ’s, all adding to the enjoyment of the evening. Samba dancing; marimba bands; street performers; fire dancers and giant creatures will entertain the guests.
And if you can’t tell your Ramba form your Samba from your Cha-cha, don’t worry – there will be plenty of dance professionals from “So You think you Can Dance “ and Dance for All on hand to give you a helping hand.
So shine up your shoes, dazzle with your diamante and prepare to ruffle some feathers at South Africa’s most glamorous ball.
More info: info@capetowncarnival.com.

Are you a performer? We want you!

Can you swallow swords, juggle with chainsaws, turn your body inside out or ride a monocycle while smoking a cigar? If so your city needs you... to participate in the second annual Cape Town Carnival.

The Cape Town Carnival is taking place in Long Street on the 19th March 2011 and we are currently accepting applications for volunteers to participate as extras in the parade. Participation will be voluntary and as with all other participants, other than transport and food, extras will not be remunerated for their involvemen - they will do it for luurve (and a chance to perfom in front of 50 000 appreciative fans).

We are looking for:
Volunteers willing to dress in costume who have a special skill: Stilt-walkers, gymnasts, tumblers and acrobats who wants to perform voluntarily with the parade. We are looking for people with a passion for Cape Town who would like to be part of this amazing event.

Who to Contact:
Jay Douwes will be managing the casting process. If you are interested please send your contact details to jay@capetowncarnival.com with “performer” in the topic line.

Sponsors on board for Carnival 2011

The campaign to secure financial sponsorship for the second Cape Town Carnival and has got off to a good start. Once again companies in the Naspers stable have offered huge support to the Carnival with financial contributions as well TV, electronic and print coverage for the event and the lead-up to the parade on March 19, 2011.
Following their involvement in the inaugural Cape Town Carnival last year, Africa’s biggest pay-TV channel M-Net will once again be an official media sponsor of the Carnival. The partnership includes a substantial financial contribution, advertising airtime on all M-Net channels to promote the Carnival as well as a one-hour recording of the parade to be aired on M-Net after the event.
M-Net Corporate Marketing & Communications Director, Koo Govender says the channel is delighted to be able to again play a role in the Cape Town Carnival and to become a long-term strategic partner. “It’s going to be a huge event and we are excited to be able to once again help share it with the whole of South Africa”.
M-Net’s participation will assist the organisers’ goal of creating a national and eventually international event that Cape Town and South Africa can be proud of.
DSTV will contribute a substantial financial amount for the running of the event and Media 24 print titles including Die Burger, You magazine and Huisgenoot have all indicated they will provide publicity for the Carnival. News24 websites will also give the Carnival extensive coverage.
Heart 104.9FM have been confirmed as the official radio sponsor, and part of the arrangement will see Heart 104.9FM float in the parade, which will feature some of their more prominent DJs. Heart will run an ongoing on-air campaign, including competitions and prizes to publicise the Cape Town Carnival and will also be encouraging listeners to become involved in float building.
The City of Cape Town and the mayor’s office have also pledged their support and all support services will be paid for by the City. In addition the Cape Town Partnership has been instrumental in negotiating with various stakeholders in the city.
The success of the Cape Town Carnival depends on the support and participation of the people of Cape Town and South Africa as well as public-private partnerships between corporate sponsors, the city, the province and the government.