Describe the main features of the measure/initiative:
Afrikera Arts Trust (AAT) was founded in 2014 and started its activities as an independent performing Arts institution in January 2015. The institution operates the AfriKera Dance Theatre Hub (ADTH).
Its vision is to become the Centre of Excellence in Dance Training in Zimbabwe, the SADC region and beyond.
Mission is to promote dance and performing arts through various programmes, namely:
(a) AfriKera Professional Dance Training (APDT) a 3-year Professional Dance Training Program. It targets talented youth from the low-income households. The programme is holistic in its syllabus focusing on dance. It relies on donors funding while promoting sustainability. 90 % of the graduates are active professionals in the Arts Sector. The current intake APDT18 caters for 18 students. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pET5RhxwVbg
(b) AfriKera Dance Theatre (ADT)- the professional arm composed of AfriKera alumni serves as a base and source of reference and referrals in order to place and promote dancers in various professional opportunities i.e. either work based or learning, residence and exchange.
Eg. In Collaboration with DDT: Baobab Shadows: https://vimeo.com/161825976/.
“Making Men” https://vimeo.com/240186861
(c) Essence of Women Dance Ensemble is the professional arm for impact in gender equity of the professional female dancer/ performer, created in 1999 to address the lack of professional black female dancers in Zimbabwe. The Mission of Essence of Women is to promote and encourage dance among women of all cultures, to provide a platform for experienced choreographers male/ female http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feBtJ8rtFHA
(d) AfriKera Collective is the choreographic arm composed of AfriKera Alumni who are keen to develop their choreographic talent, interest and expertise. As such, AfriKera Arts Trust boasts a varied ingrown repertoire in addition to creations emerging from established collaborations and workshops by visiting choreographers.
What is special about Afrikera Arts Trust?
It is an all-in-one type of institution, in that it offers a wide range of complementary elements for the performing art of dance and encourages cross-fertilization of the performing arts genres.
It runs the only 3-year full-time Professional Dance Training in Zimbabwe. It is unique in the region as it targets and facilitates access to this vocation on a professional level to talented youth from low-income households. The training is holistic in its syllabus, with a wide range of dance techniques on offer. Although the focus is dance, it also equips students with life skills, leadership skills, bookkeeping, English, anatomy, critical analysis, and opens their perspectives in Artistic professions. Students are also assured that their additional skills or interests (music, sound and lighting engineering, design, massage therapy…) will be nurtured. AAT succeeds in reabsorbing some graduates into its different branches for teaching, choreographing, and taking part in creations and exchanges.
AfriKera YouTube Channel, please share and subscribe
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCdhDAJ3WhSOELYJDEUKLLXw/videos
AfriKera Arts Trust Website: http://www.afrikera.org
(AfriKera Arts Trust FB page; Instagram.com/afrikeraartstrust)
Website of the measure/initiative, if available:
What are the results achieved so far through the implementation of the measure/initiative?:
90% of the graduates are now active professionals in the Arts Sector through various ventures and in various locations.
It is proven that Arts contribute to the GDP of a country and the economic impact of the AAT is tangible, graduates are able to make a living.
The AfriKera Dance Theatre Hub (ADTH) is a home for artists as it provides a safe space to create and collaborate. Students and artists feel empowered to express.
AAT facilitates Collaboration, exchange, lectures, Master classes/ Workshops with guests (i.e. Choreographers/ teachers/ dancers, Directors/ professionals of cultural agencies, physiotherapists, modelling agencies, the Red Cross, etc.) to impart useful knowledge to the students to complement their crafts.
AAT Graduates who work in the diaspora come back to their base – AfriKera Arts Trust and give back which makes AfriKera Arts Trust a vibrant outlet in the “danscape” of Zimbabwe and the region.
AAT creates employment by reabsorbing graduates for teaching in the 3year training, or guest teach, or work on productions by AAT or collaboration with other partners
Given the holistic nature and component of its Syllabus, AAT produces graduates who are not only dancers but can teach, manage their career, and venture in furthering studies or other supportive employ related to the arts.