P.J. Sabbagha

P.J. Sabbagha (19**-). (also credited as 'PJ Sabbagha', 'P J Sabbagha' and 'Peter John Sabbagha') Choreographer, dancer, actor.

Sabbagha is a South African choreographer whose name has become synonymous with issue-based dance theatre and more specifically HIV-and AIDS-focused art. He was the recipient of the 2005 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance, and has participated in artists’ residencies in Russia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Tanzania, Mali, Mozambique and Taiwan.

Biography

A South African choreographer based in Johannesburg, he was one of the founding members of the First Physical Theatre Company, under the direction of Gary Gordon, and is the founder and artistic director of the Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative.

Invited to the United States in 2007, he travelled the country in search of initiatives dealing with HIV, AIDS or other infectious diseases. Sabbagha's work has been performed around the world, and he has had residencies in Russia, The Netherlands, Tanzania, Mali, Mozambique and Mexico. Not afraid to deal with difficult issues, his dance is today largely associated with the problems of AIDS.

Training

Sabbagha undertook his formal training at Rhodes University in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. In 1992, Sabbagha graduated with a BA (majoring in Drama and Psychology) and, in 1993, he completed a BA Honours (with distinction).

Career

Sabbagha worked at Rhodes University as a tutor in Movement, Dance, Choreography, Physical Theatre, Voice, Group Acting. He was also Company Manager, Resident Choreographer and full time performer for the First Physical Theatre Company

He subsequently worked at Wits University as Senior Tutor and Lecturer Movement, Dance and Choreography.

Sabbagha is founding member and Artistic Director of The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative and the Annual When Life Happens: HIV and AIDS arts and Culture.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

As a student performer

at Rhodes University: Leaving Out Profanity (1993)

As choreographer

• Zebra (2009): created for the 2009 FNB Dance Umbrella – a first time collaboration between South African and Russian artists. Presented in Johannesburg, Moscow, Kostroma and Yraslav Russia (March 2009); invited to and presented on the Main Program of the 2009 National Arts Festival, Grahamstown South Africa.

• Back (2009): presented in 8 cities in Mexico (April, May 2009); invited to and presented at Visa 2 Dance festival in Tanzania (October 2009); in Moscow: Russia and Chalon: France (2013).

• Deep Night (2009): created and premiered in Johannesburg in commemoration of World Aids Day. (Nominated by critics as best Dance work for 2009); invited to the 2010 FNB Dance Umbrella; presented for Wits Drama for Life festival in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pietermaritzberg and Durban; selected as a finalist in the 2010 Dance Africa Dance, Biennal, Choreographic Competition in Bamako, Mali; invited to Kinani Festival in Mozambique (2011).

• I think it's Hamlet (2011): Dance Umbrella (2011); Kuandu, Taipei, Taiwan (2012); Johannesburg (2013)

• One Night Stand (2012): Dance Umbrella (2012); Danse l’Afrique Danse 2012; Johannesburg.

• somewhere out there life was screaming (2012): assistant choreographer to Eric Languet, Johannesburg: South Africa, St Denis: Reunion, Chalon: France.

• Cargo: Precious (2014)

Awards, etc

Honoured in 1995 by the newspaper The Star as one of South Africa's ten most important artists, he was also nominated for the Amstel Salute to Success award.

In 2005, he received the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance and the following year, the choreography prize at the Dance Umbrella Festival for his work Still Here. He has also received the Most Outstanding Presentation award for both The Double Room (2005) and Macbeth (2009), as well as multiple nominations at the FNB Vita Awards and FNB Dance Umbrella Awards.

Awarded the 2008 MEC Award for Most Outstanding Presentation of a New Work for Macbeth.

Nominated for the 2008 Gauteng MEC Awards for Best Choreography and Most Outstanding Presentation of a new work for Macbeth and Back.

Nominated for the 2007 Gauteng MEC Awards for Best Choreography and Most Outstanding Presentation of a New Work for Macbeth.

Awarded the 2006 Arts and Culture Gauteng MEC’s Award for Choreographer of the Year and Best Choreographer for Still Here!

Recipient of the FNB Vita Award for most Outstanding Presentation of an Original South African Contemporary Dance work for The Double Room.

Finalist for the Daimler Chrysler Award for Choreography

Nominated for F.N.B. Vita Award for Choreographer of the year and most Outstanding Presentation of an Original South African Contemporary Dance work for Canto Hondo, Just You Just Me, and Noah’s Phobia.

Recipient of the 1995 F.N.B. Vita Young Choreographers Grant.

Sources

'Deep Night', Numeridance, https://www.numeridanse.tv/en/dance-videotheque/deep-night

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