Professional Class is back not only this month, but all the way to November.

You are now able to book our classes well in advance so that you can stay organised and stay fit.

We would like to welcome our new Learning and Participation Co-ordinator Richard Pitt to the team.

Richard comes from a background in performance, choreography and rehearsal directing. He has worked as Event Coordinator for Nottinghill Carnival and more recently as programmer for Dance of the African Diaspora (DAD). We are very excited to have him on the team.

Read a short interview we had with Richard:

1. What are you looking forward to doing at Tavaziva?
   I hope to be able to learn more about the Company and the goals of the Company so that I can support the vision as much as possible. Tavaziva is already doing so much and reaching so many people, so I look forward to being able to go out and speak to existing partners and build new relationships where I can.
2. What do you love most about Tavaziva?
   Well, that’s an easy one. Bawren is such a dynamic artist. I just had the chance to observe him delivering a workshop and an audition; the way that he works is really inspiring and exciting. Also, having been part of the team for just 2 weeks I can also see that Bawren is lucky to have a really lovely and passionate team working hard behind the scenes to keep the machine running smoothly and ensuring that Bawren’s work reaches as many people as possible. All of this makes Tavaziva such a lovely place to work, and special thing to be a part of.
3. What made you want to work in a dance company?
   Dance has always been a major part of my life; it is definitely a passion of mine. Being able to support a dance company, dancers and choreographers is something that is important to me, and if we are able to share dance with as many people as possible it can only be a good thing.
4. Are there any fun facts about yourself?
   Hmmmm. I have jumped out of a plane twice. That was fun! I was lucky to spend time in Australia and New Zealand and while I was there it seemed like the right thing to do!

Tavaziva, Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and Caius House Youth Centre invite 11-18 year olds to join this special project led by professional dance and music artists.

Participants will explore the process of creating, marketing and performing their own work which will be performed at RAD as a part of Wandsworth Arts Fringe on the 7th of May.

If you are interested in being part of this exciting project that takes place from the 8th to the 12th of April at Caius House Youth Centre, then register your interest.

For any inquires email us at getintouch@tavazivastg.wpengine.com or call us on 020 8237 7010.

A collection of photographers by Jevan Chowdhury are now on permanent display at Caius House Youth Centre; 2 Holman Rd, Battersea, London SW11 3RL.

Photo credit: Jevan Chowdhury

Tavaziva’s new work BOY’S KHAYA will premiere in early 2020 and we are on the look-out for new dancers to join the company for the creation and rehearsals that will happen in the later part of 2019. We will be holding 3 auditions in March 2019, one in Leeds and two in London. Click here for more details!

If you have at least 3 years of professional dance experience and want to join Tavaziva in the making of it’s next groundbreaking production, then please register your interest by clicking here and submitting your details. If you have any questions you can get in touch with us by emailing getintouch@tavazivastg.wpengine.com or calling 020 8237 7010.

This month Bawren delivered a Shona dance workshop in preparation for Black Panther star and Tony-nominated writer Danai Gurira’s striking play The Convert at the Young Vic, directed by Ola Ince. The play is set in Zimbabwe in 1896 and follows the harrowing story of Jekesai, a young woman fleeing forced marriage.

Bawren worked with the cast, including Letitia Wright (Black Panther), Paapa Essiedu (RSC Hamlet) and Ivanno Jeremiah (Humans), giving guidance on Shona dance techniques. He also led a Q&A session that allowed the cast to delve deeper into their roles.

“I loved working with this group of extraordinarily talented actors. I was tapping in to knowledge that even I was surprised to find in the depths of my consciousness, from my upbringing in Zimbabwe. I find it very cathartic to revisit my roots”. Bawren Tavaziva

For more information and to book click here!

Bawren was invited to In2it International Dance Festival in Norway to create an adapted version of Izindava with three Tavaziva dancers and 23 Norwegian dancers – including five professional dancers from Compassion 2 Dance, three dance students from Sunndal Culture school, and 11 dance students from Kristiansund Opera Ballet center

The dancers had one week to learn the unique choreography and due to all their hard work and determination, the dancers delivered an incredible performance on 30 September 2018.  Tavaziva dancers, Asmara, Nicole, and Harriet, really enjoyed collaborating with the Norwegian dancers, and both Bawren and Tendai Makurumbandi, artistic director of Compassion 2 Dance and In2it International Dance Festival programme leader, were thrilled with the outcome.

We are proud to say that the performance received a standing ovation!

Photo credit to Steinar Husby

Notch and Green Hippo specialise in the design and manufacturing of hardware and software for manipulation of video in the AV industry. In April they commissioned Bawren to choreograph and perform in an interactive demo in Germany. Bawren had the opportunity to wear a motion capture suit and see his movements digitalised on a screen, displaying real-time visual effects, backgrounds and avatars.

This month Bawren held a fascinating R&D session with the production team to understand how the technology works and how far it can be taken by the body.

This combination of real-time motion capture and dance opens many creative possibilities. Bawren has been inspired to incorporate motion capture in his new work in order to create an innovative performance of both futuristic technology and the earthbound art of dance. This exceptional work will premier in 2020.

In2it International Dance Festival is a dance festival run by Tendai Makurumbandi, a professional dancer and choreographer from Zimbabwe, who now teaches in Norway. Norwegian, French and UK companies get invited to the boundless festival that prides itself on cultural exchange and excellence.

Tavaziva were lucky enough to be invited last year, and again this year! Bawren and dancers Nicole, Harriet and Asmara will create a new version of Izindava with the integration of 23 Norwegian dancer. The Tavaziva and Norwegian dancers are training this week and performing on Sunday the 30th of September!

We asked Tendai three questions we’ve all been desperate to know, and his answers were so interesting! Check them out:

What is your favorite part of the festival?

My favorite part of the festival is when the program is rolling with artists closely sharing their work through performances and workshops.

How did you come to start running the festival?

Well, on a daily basis I work as a dance teacher within several culture schools in the region Møre Romsdal County. So dance has been the starting and ending at the culture school level, so I started the festival to break that cycle and bring in professional dancing to the region promoting cultural understanding, innovation and excellency! Our mission is to build cultural bridges though dance.

What are the Norwegian dancer’s backgrounds?

It will be 5 dancers from my company (Compassion 2Dance), 3 dance students from Sunndal Culture school, and 11 dance students from Kristiannsund Opera Ballet centre.

My company dancers came to be a part of the project because I would like to collaborate with Tavaziva in the near future, this will be a good starting point to create a working relationship.

As my intension is to develop dance in the region, so I have to invest in the upcoming dancers, the younger generation who has a huge interest in dance. I would like to further expose them to the dance world, meeting different experiences, share work and stage with professional dancers, create role models and inspire.