Tavaziva is looking for an Interim Executive Director
The Interim Executive Director will guide the organisation’s strategic development and planning over the next period to April 2022.
Closing date: 22 October 2021
Click here to listen to a new episode on Doc’n Roll Radio featuring the wonderful Alfred George Bailey.
We have worked with Photographer and Film Maker Alfred over the years as he has captured some of our most memorable works and studio sessions. More recently, Alfred filmed and directed ‘I Still Breathe’, a feature documentary in which young adults express their feelings and experiences of racism and the protest movement in the wake of the death of George Floyd. Two of our dancers Dak Mashava and Harriet Waghorn were involved in the film, as well as our alumni dancer Lisa Rowley.
We recommend listening to this fascinating episode where Alfred discusses music, film and photography, his work and the future.
Introducing ‘Unboxing Dance’ by recent Trinity Laban graduate Josie Bower, which features Bawren Tavaziva. This is episode is part of a podcast series made for Josie’s dissertation titled ‘Unboxing Dance: A reflection and appreciation of Black dance in Britain’.
A topic chosen as a reaction to her own experience of British dance curricula, Josie felt it necessary to investigate Black dance in Britain further from a position of white privilege. She aimed to provide an educational space, for both herself and listeners, exploring first hand experiences of what it is to be a Black dance artist in the UK.
In this segment of the podcast, Bawren delves into the new work BOY’S KHAYA. He explains that the source of inspirations for the work stems from his upbringing in Zimbabwe and how he uses personal memories in his creative process. The importance of versatility as well as Bawren’s unique fusion of dance styles is also discussed.
Listen to Bawren’s episode here:
The wait is over and our online professional classes are back. We have a number of Contemporary classes that aim to maintain your technique, challenge your mind and nurture your body each week. Dive into Artistic Director Bawren Tavaziva’s unique African, Contemporary and Ballet dance fusion and explore the Lester Horton Technique Company Manager Heather Star Benson.
Book 5 classes and receive 1 free!
We are teaming up with Activity Station to offer workshops that delve into the relationship between movement and music. Activity Station is a charity that provides activities and socialising opportunities for people with disabilities.
Activity Station is led by the delightful Maria Cassar, a Maltese dancer who trained at Trinity Laban and received a BA in DanceTheatre. Maria works with disabled young dancers delivering Special Educational Needs workshops and is passionate about facilitating dance for all abilities and backgrounds. She believes that our bodies are designed to move and everyone should have equal opportunity to do so, noting that; “dance is a catalyst for expression and empowerment to those who might otherwise be unheard, ignored or invisible in our society.”
Keep an eye our for more workshops here.
Bawren and our company dancer Asmara Cammock lead a series of classes with the students of the Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) programme at Swindon Dance. The CAT programme provides dance training opportunities for young people aged between 11-17 years.
The structure of the classes began with a warm up and a set of Ballet and African Contemporary based exercises. After this, Bawren worked with the students to create choreographic pieces for their end of year showcase. The final pieces will be filmed professionally and edited to create a digital showcase to share with parents and students through a live stream in July to finish their academic year. The showcase will be open to the pubic on the 31st July.
Image credit: Dan Martin
Dance Woking hosted their first ‘Breakfast Briefing’, a programme where participants have the opportunity to spend time with a selection of artists. The programme was launched with a conversation by our very own Bawren Tavaziva. Bawren then led a Masterclass where he took participants through a warm up, a set of exercises and finished with repertoire.
We look forward to doing more collaborations with Dance Woking soon…
As a part of our ongoing partnership with the Royal Academy of Dance, we delivered workshops led by Bawren Tavaziva and company dancer Asmara Cammock to Royal Academy of Dance students. Bawren and Asmara take participants through the Tavaziva company warm up and share dance sequences and choreography using Bawren’s unique style that synthesises ballet, contemporary and African dance.
Asmara also lead a Soca-cize: Afro-Caribbean Dance Mix. Rooted in African and Caribbean dance movement and music, this workshop aimed to get participants back on their feet and enjoying movement and music that would shake off lockdown blues.
These workshops were for students ages 13-18years and another workshop for students 18+
We are hosting an evening of live dance and music for the Wandsworth Arts Fringe in the Big Top tent on the 30th Of June.
This dance showcase will be packed with dance from Ballet to Breakdance and feature local organisations such as Royal Academy of Dance, Beatbox Academy, Step into Dance and a stunning new solo choreographed by Bawren Tavaziva for our new work BOY’S KHAYA!
We are also joined by some of the most dynamic and diverse youth dance companies from across London including Impact Dance, Artistry Youth Dance and AkomaAsa Youth Dance Company!
Participants from our recent Step Into Dance half term workshop will also perform a new piece created by Bawren.
This evening is suitable for all ages and will showcase friends and partners of TAVAZIVA.
Running time is approximately 90mins.
This evening is not one to miss!
It is with great sadness to inform you that Colin Bourne Collins, Trustee of Tavaziva died on 19th March 2021.
The suddenness of this lost came as a great shock and we have lost such a kind and considerate soul who was also a passionate advocate and valued and trusted Director of the Company since 2016. Colin was Head of Dance Programmes and Programme Leader of the BA in Contemporary Dance programme at Trinity Laban. His vast experience & knowledge of the Dance Industry, Arts Education and of the training and nurturing of tomorrow’s dancers were an invaluable support in the development of Tavaziva.
Our feelings go out to his family and to everyone that knew him in various ways. We shall miss him very much.
“Colin was a completely committed Board member. His calm, positive and constructive clear thought process leading to sound advice were very much appreciated by myself as well as by fellow Trustees. Colin will be missed by everyone at Tavaziva as I am sure he will be by all whose lives he touched.”
– Marie McCluskey MBE
Chair of Trustees 2016-2021