Londeka Zondi and Sanele Kenneth Mntumba perform in Intimate at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on Tuesday in the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience Fringe programme. Photo: Val Adamson

PIETERMARITZBURG choreographer, JC Zondi received the inaugural JOMBA! Pick of the Fringe award on Tuesday, August 29 at this year’s JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, after a riveting ten-performance programme of highly creative work by choreographers from around South Africa.

The award is given to an innovative choreographer from the Fringe in an endeavour to further encourage choreographers to create new work.

Currently reading for his Masters in Drama and Performance Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus), 26-year-old Zondi’s piece was titled Intimate and was performed by dancers, Vuyo Sabelo Ndawonde, Sanele Kenneth Mntumba, Londeka Zondi and JC Zondi himself. It also featured videography by Simphiwe Fiddy Ngcobo.

JC Zondi (left) receives the JOMBA! Pick of the Fringe Award from Chris Tobo (right). Photo: Val Adamson

Speaking about his work, Zondi said it was “an invitation and exploration into the deep personal space of the dancer(s) intimate bodies and how we look at each other.”

Tuesday night’s panel consisted of Durban-based reviewer Chris Tobo, choreographers Adriaan Luteijn and Nina Funk from INTRODANS (Netherlands) and well-known SA dance critic Adrienne Sichel.

Two other works were given a special mention by the panel – i ‘Yakhal Imbokodo choreographed by Bonwa Mbontsi and Francis Menningke, presented by the ‘Maritzburg-based Bonwa Dance Company and Aslama, choreographed by Yaseen Manuel from Cape Town.

On receiving the award Zondi said: “For me JOMBA! Fringe has always been a platform where I could showcase the beautiful students/dancers who I work with, and relay some message to the world of art.

“Receiving the award was a great surprise and a reminder as to why I do what I do, and an incentive to keep creating.”

Jomba runs until September 3 at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Howard College campus in Durban. For more info go to www.cca.ukzn.ac.za