Ilha de Moçambique 28 November – 16 December 2005
Capacity building workshop for dancers and musicians of the provinces Nampula, Cabo Delgado, Niassa. Lectured by a team of Companhia Nacional de Canto e Dança CNCD & Bettina Holzhausen
Aim of the project
This project was set up to develop capacities and skills of a selection of traditional dancers and musicians of the provinces Nampula, Niassa and Cabo Delgado that will empower them to develop their dance culture further with a strong awareness of their own creative power. Through the participants of the project the acquired knowledge will be transferred to a number of groups and dancers in the region. The workshop is meant to reinforce and inspire future activities of the participants and their groups and improve the artistic quality of the work they do.
Program of the workshop
During three weeks intensive program [8 – 18 h, 6 days a week] the workshop offered classes in several disciplines:
- Dance training (traditional and contemporary) improving dance skills and building up technical abilities, flexibility and strength.
- Composition / improvisation: Introduction of the bases of improvisation and composition work. Creation of short pieces in small groups, which were presented at the final showing.
- Teaching dance: Methods of teaching, lesson planning and some basic information about body condition, nutrition and first aid.
- Research and investigation of dance: Introduction of investigation methods, debates about the importance of dance in society, practical fieldwork exercises in Ilha de Mozambique and Lumbo.
- Music: Training in playing, personal corrections and feedback. Accompanying movement. Arrangement of a song, a music and a dance of each participating province. Maintenance of instruments.
Teaching staff
- Bettina Holzhausen – contemporary dance / improvisation / composition / teaching dance
- Atanasio Nhussi – investigation and research / accompanying musician all classes
- Noe Estevao Manjate – traditional dance / teaching dance / arrangement traditional dance
- Maria José Gonçalves – traditional dance / teaching dance / arrangement traditional dance
- Rolando Alexandre Lamussene – music / accompanying musician all classes
Participants
Dancers and musicians of the provinces Nampula, Cabo Delgado and Niassa were invited to apply through the Direcçoes Provincial da Educação e Cultura. Representing the following municipalities:
- Nampula Cidade, Ilha de Moçambique
- Pemba, Montepuez, Mocimboa da Praia
- Lichinga, Cuamba, Metangula
14 participants were selected out of 50 applications.
Assessment of the project
Generally the different modules of the course fulfilled our expectations and provided a good overview of information about different aspects of dance and music practice. Participants made a lot of progress in very short time and were motivated throughout the whole course. Generally participants became more independent in decision taking and started to discover their creative capacities.
There are definitely things to deepen or add to the program. This concerns especially methodology of teaching, body conditioning and health issues. Also instrument making and theatre could become part of the program. Generally three weeks are too short to give in depth information.
We received very good feedback from the participants themselves as well as from the Ministry of Education and Culture, several provincial governments and the press. There seems to be a high demand and need for capacity building of dance groups and dancers in all parts of the country.
Future outcomes and activities
The experience of the project shows that intensive workshop about different aspects of dance and music practice is an efficient and practicable way to support and encourage dance in the provinces. As it expands the know-how and capacities of the participants and their groups and at the same time gives them possibilities to meet and network.
Due to the success of the project for the Northern provinces and the incredible good feedback from very different sides we are planning similar courses for the Centre (Sofala, Tete, Manica and Zambezia) and South (Gaza, Maputo and Inhambane). We hope that the success of this pilot project will help us to find the necessary means therefore.
For the development of the dance activities in communities all over the country the formation of facilitators in workshops can only be a temporary solution. On the long run the creation of a degree-program for dance teachers/facilitators similar to the previously existing formation of CEC (Centro de Estudos Culturais) in Maputo is absolutely necessary.
Documentary movie
‘Dansa na Ilha’ by Denis Buttner/Manaba Films Marseille
Contact:
Manaba Films
32, rue Raphaël
13008 Marseille
Phone: (33) 4 91 22 20 08 / Fax: (33) 4 91 32 60 58
E-mail: manaba@wanadoo.fr
Press release:
Traditional dance in present and future I
(Northern Mozambique 2005) (0,34 MB)
