Events past and present
2004
- May
- Formation of the Tavaziva Dance Company as a result of the Arts Council England
Pro-Motion Award.
Bawren forms a company of 5 dancers to perform his four most recent works in an evening entitled Kumusha - I am Home. - July
- Tavaziva Dance performed in Belgium at the Pole Pole Festival in Antwerp to public
acclaim.
- October - December
- Tavaziva Dance undertakes its first National Tour of
Kumusha - I am Home
2005
- April
- Tavaziva Dance received Regular Funded Organisation
status from Arts Council England for three years from
April 2005 to March 2008.
- July
- Premiere of Worlds Apart
- October - December
- Tavaziva Dance undertakes a National Tour of Bawren's new production
Soul Inspired
2006
- February - May
- Spring Tour of
Soul Inspired
- September - November
- Autumn Tour of
Bophelo
2007
- January
- The company performed a ten minute extract of Mandla at the
International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) Annual
Conference 2007 in Toronto, Canada.
http://www.danceimmersion.ca
Umdlalo kaSisi performed by Ballet Black at Royal Opera House, Linbury Studio Theatre, London
- February - April
- Spring Tour of
Bophelo
- May
- Performances and workshops at
HIFA
Harare International Festival of the Arts
- July - September
- Bawren choreographed for Influx Dance, Wycombe Swan Dance Project and Sampad's national touring production Motherland
- October
- Autumn Tour of
Chatsva
- November
- Company exchange residency with Dance Immersion/COBA in Toronto, Canada
2008
- January
- Bawren teaching Dance Intense residency in Calcutta, India
- February - March
- Spring Tour of
Chatsva
- May
- Swindon UK premiere of new collaborative work with Dance Immersion/COBA (Toronto)
2009
- January - April
- Spring Tour 2009
Heart of Darkness
- May
- Spring 2009 - International
Collaboration with Toronto's COBA
- September - November
- Autumn Tour 2009
Heart of Darkness
Performance Schedule
2010
- January - March
- Spring Tour 2010
Wild Dog
Spring Tour 2010
Wild Dog
Following the company's touring success with their previous production Heart of Darkness Tavaziva Dance's seven high-octane dancers return in Spring 2010 with a fierce new show entitled Wild Dog.
Wild Dog captures the beauty and elegance of one of Africa's most endangered species, whilst delving deep into the unknown and articulation of the beast. Tavaziva implores audiences to join the dramatic dancers as their bodies pulsate and vibrate against the mind-blowing soundtrack cut and arranged by award-winning Zimbabwean-born choreographer and composer Bawren Tavaziva.
"The company were truly outstanding." Nottingham Evening Post
"Tavaziva's choreography combines physical lushness with a determined ferocity." The Guardian
"A great company... their seamless blend of contemporary and traditional African Movement, strikingly costumed and lit" The Independent
"What is out of the ordinary is that the choreographer [Bawren Tavaziva] aims for emotional directness, openness of spirit and human warmth - not qualities seen, or aspired to in today's contemporary dance." Dance Now
"Mesmerising, bringing grace and passion to the stage." Afridiziak Theatre News
Autumn Tour 2009
Heart of Darkness
“An entertaining night out all round and a real treat for fans of contemporary dance.“
ATN review by Havana Wellings-Longmore. Monday April 6 2009.
Following on from the companies touring success with their previous production Chatsva, Tavaziva Dance's five high-octane dancers returned in Spring 2009 with a new repertory show Heart of Darkness created by award-winning Zimbabwean-born choreographer and composer Bawren Tavaziva bringing his trademark fusion of African sensibility, music and dance moves within an entirely Western contemporary theatre context. Owing to the success of the Spring Tour Tavaziva Dance takes Heart of Darkness to 12 more cities.
Heart of Darkness features three austerely contrasting pieces.
Kenyan Athlete (15 minutes)
This new group work takes it's starting point from the expression "the sun is beautiful people" that inspired Bawren's highly successful Beautiful People for the Without Walls festivals consortium. Kenyan Athlete is set to a fast-paced soundtrack, exploring the beauty and physicality of Kenyan people and their surroundings.
This new group work takes it's starting point from the expression "the sun is beautiful people" that inspired Bawren's highly successful Beautiful People for the Without Walls festivals consortium. Kenyan Athlete is set to a fast-paced soundtrack, exploring the beauty and physicality of Kenyan people and their surroundings.
Sinful Intimacies (11 minutes)
A sensual new duet by Bawren will be danced at different performances by either two men or two women, exploring in intimate details the unease of African society with same-sex love, which is usually perceived as a dark possession of dangerously subversive bewitchment.
A sensual new duet by Bawren will be danced at different performances by either two men or two women, exploring in intimate details the unease of African society with same-sex love, which is usually perceived as a dark possession of dangerously subversive bewitchment.
My Friend Robert (30 minutes)
Bawren draws on his personal experiences and memories of growing up in the newly-independent Zimbabwe of Robert Mugabe, a leader of promise and vision, adored by his people. So what went wrong? Where do the visionary dreams, empowerment, redistribution of resources and flag-waving shade off into megalomania, economic meltdown, corruption and violence? Bawren's latest group work offers a deeply personal comment on the challenges facing Africa today.
Bawren draws on his personal experiences and memories of growing up in the newly-independent Zimbabwe of Robert Mugabe, a leader of promise and vision, adored by his people. So what went wrong? Where do the visionary dreams, empowerment, redistribution of resources and flag-waving shade off into megalomania, economic meltdown, corruption and violence? Bawren's latest group work offers a deeply personal comment on the challenges facing Africa today.
Link to http://www.article19.co.uk for video excerpts from Heart of Darkness.
Read the article and watch the videofrom the VOA (Voice of America) website. Catherine Drew attended a rehearsal of "My Friend Robert" and published this article on January 20 2009.
Read the article "The Dancers voting with their feet"by Alice Jones published on January 19 2009 in the Independent.
Alice met with Bawren Tavaziva and reveals his inspiration for the work "My Friend Robert", his thoughts on Robert Mugabe and on the current situation in Zimbabwe.
Video shorts
If you have trouble watching the following videos you may need to download Windows Media PlayerView the 2 minute video short of Pachedu (2.4MB) from the 2007 Chatsva season.
View the 3 minute 34 seconds video short of Makwikwi (4MB) from the 2007 Chatsva season.