Sibikwa Arts Centre

Sibikwa Arts Centre is an arts centre located at 13 Liverpool Park, Corner Liverpool and Bolton Roads, Benoni.

Also referred to as the Sibikwa Centre for the Arts.

Sibikwa takes pride in uku’bikwa: the act of pronouncing, announcing and presenting on the world stage, the in-born talents of individuals...as custodians of his-story and her-story.

History

Sibikwa was created in 1988 as a result of a group of Daveyton, East Rand parents voicing their concerns about their childrens' poor attendance at school, lack of focus, the low level of education, the increasing violence and the lack of amenities in the townships. As a result Sibikwa Community Theatre Project was launched by Smal Ndaba and Phyllis Klotz to provide these children with a focus and hope for the future.

Their involvement in theatre began with So Where To? which toured extensively throughout Southern Africa and festivals abroad.

In 1991, Sibikwa moved to it's present location in Liverpool Park, Benoni. The Liverpool Park Complex is a government building managed by the Provincial Department of Public Works. The Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts & Culture (Gauteng) has identified Sibikwa as a Centre of Excellence. The centre is home to a Professional Dance Company, an African Indigenous Orchestra, and an ad hoc Professional Theatre Company.

Through its history, Sibikwa has produced and directed leading, award-wining and cutting-edge productions to audiences not only in South Africa but all over the world. Three of the Sibikwa Plays have been published by Heinemann and are on the prescribed list for grade 11 learners.

Purpose

The purpose of the Sibikwa Arts Centre is to advance:

the talents of South African children and youth through inclusive arts education programmes

the cultural landscape with performances that entertain, educate and enlighten audiences

South African stories on the global stage, in corporate environments and in educational spaces

skills development and job creation through accredited vocational training programmes

creative talents for people with an interest in arts approaches to career development

local contexts by advocating for and democratizing access to arts and culture

Facilities

The Centre has a spacious Dance Studio, several Rehearsal Rooms, Administration Offices, Media Resource Centre and a Library. It also has two performance spaces: a Studio Theatre (capacity 150) and a performance workshop space "Gazata" (capacity 80).

Management

The Sibikwa Arts Centre team is: Caryn Green (CEO), Keabetswe Galawe (Finance Administrator), Ntombizivumile Qupe (Education Projects Manager), Thapelo Kotlolo (CATHSSETA Training Coordinator), Sipho Michael Mabena (Office Administrator), Kelly Storom (Entrepreneurship, Culture And Democracy Projects Manager), Smal Ndaba and Phyllis Klotz (Co-Founders and Consultants). Board Of Directors : Rick Edmonds, Mologadi Kekana, Pamela Grayman (Chair) and Zwelakhe Gumede.

CHERICE MANGIAGALLI

SIBIKWA ARTS DANCE COMPANY Dance company Artistic Director and dance company manager Cherice Mangiagalli is a contemporary trained dancer from the University of Cape Town where she graduated with her BMus in Dance majoring in Contemporary Dance, African Dance and Choreography.

She furthered her studies at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro as an exchange student, with her Honours in Choreography and arts administration. After graduating with her Honours, she started her career at the Sibikwa Arts Centre, working in the Community Arts Development as the Artistic Director and Company Manager of the Sibikwa Arts Dance Company.

NEO LELEKA

African Indeginous Orchestra Musical Director has been trained in music at Fuba. He has taught African percussion at Sibikwa for over six years. . He is the resident composer at Sibikwa, developing original scores for theatre and dance presentations and performances.