Bawren Tavaziva in Tsika
Bawren Tavaziva - Dancer
Bawren Tavaziva was born in a rural village near Masvingo in Zimbabwe. At the age of four his parents decided their family of 4 boys and 3 girls needed to move to Harare where his father found work in the city.Football, Michael Jackson, New Edition and Kung Fu movies viewed at the local community hall in the Harare suburb of Tafara provided inspiration to Bawren and his friends. They practised the admired dance styles, karate moves and football skills in the streets where the children of the neighbourhood gathered. Bawren's musical talents also developed at this time on a guitar made by his brother from a 5 litre tin can and fishing wire.
As Bawren reached his teens he was drawn to a dance program created by The National Ballet and run by Viv and Chris Hamblin. The program targeted talented under-privileged youngsters. Classes were given in contemporary dance, traditional dance and ballet in community halls in the large townships that surround Harare. Tavaziva was soon selected to join the City Youth Dance Group where the most talented received extra classes.
Within two years Bawren was selected as an apprentice to work with Tumbuka Dance Company, where he remained for five years.
Tavaziva's dance training continued through this time under the exceptional tutelage of Neville Campbell, Artistic Director of Tumbuka for most of Bawren's term with the company. Bawren also studied Cecchetti under Dawn Saunders passing his Elementary and Intermediate exams with Honours and he received inspiration from many visiting guest choreographers and teachers, notably Robyn Orlin and Peter Kyle.
While with Tumbuka Bawren toured extensively, visiting the African sub-continent, including South Africa, Botswana, Angola and the Ivory Coast, and Europe, including France, Germany, Switzerland and the UK.
In 1995 Bawren was awarded a scholarship to attend the Montpellier Choreographic Institute’s Summer Festival in France. The award was made during a choreographic competition in Angola where he was performing with four other dancers from Tumbuka.
In 1998 Tavaziva moved to the UK where he has worked with Sakoba Dance Theatre, JazzXchange, Carol Brown, Phoenix Dance and Union Dance Company.