19 Mar 2009 This weekend’s North West Theatre and Dance Indaba, taking place at the Mmabana Arts and Culture Foundation in Mmabatho on 21 and 22 March 2009, will cover a variety of themes that should be of interest to cultural practitioners.

The province hosts its fair share of arts festivals, and representatives from Aardklop, the Taung Festival and the Stop Crime Festival will be sharing their experiences related to the staging of such large events.

Officials from the North West provincial sport, arts and culture department will address the gathering, as will various artists and other stakeholders. High on the agenda is the issue of transformation in the arts, and various speakers will be discussing the topic “Transformation:
One step forward and two steps back, or two steps forward and one step back?”

This will be the fourth of nine provincial indabas to be hosted by the Southern African Theatre Initiative (SATI), which is travelling around the country to consult with stakeholders in the performing arts. This Department of Arts and Culture-supported process is intended to identify key areas to inform future priorities and legislation.

The next indaba will be held in Durban on 4 and 5 April, at the Playhouse Theatre. The Limpopo indaba will take place on 18 and 19 April at the Polokwane Art Museum and Gallery.

All interested parties are encouraged to contact SATI to reserve their place at these free indabas. Phone (011) 838-8932 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .