SIZE OF COMPANY
8 on the road

SCALE OF VENUE
Small to medium

PERMANENT STAFF
Artistic Director
Bawren Tavaziva
Executive Director
Iyshea McKay
Chris Copland
Production Manager
Abigail Hammond
Costume Designer

ARTISTIC POLICY
Tavaziva Dance explores new territories by placing the rich and diverse dance forms of Africa in a contemporary, Western context. The company inspires and entertains audiences with its high-energy dance vocabulary, skilled technical dancers, original music, and a totally unique perspective on African dance.

REVIEW EXTRACTS
A great company…their seamless blend of contemporary and traditional African movement, strikingly costumed and lit.
The Independent
A tribal sense of combat but also of ecstasy…intensely uplifting, enchanting and energetic, and typically demonstrative of the pure joy of dance.
Dancing Times

CURRENT PRODUCTIONS
Heart of Darkness
A repertoire of four different pieces by Zimbabwean-born choreographer/composer Bawren Tavaziva and his company of five contemporary dancers. Tavaziva Dance’s new production, Heart of Darkness features guest choreographer Harriet Macauley’s austerely beautiful Silent Steps to the gently uplifting Kenyan Athlete, and two new works by Bawren. Sinful Intimacies is a sensual duet exploring African unease with same-sex love, while a major new work My Friend Robert draws on Bawren’s personal experiences of growing up in Zimbabwe under the leadership of Robert Mugabe.
90 mins including 15 min interval
Beautiful People
Takes its starting point from the Shona expression the sun is the beautiful people, and is inspired by the idea of an African marketplace. Beautiful People can be performed in a range of outdoor venues. This outdoor performance piece reflects the twin themes of African’s vibrant marketplaces and the magnificent sunset.  
25 Mins

WRAP-AROUND
The company’s Education Programmes features workshops, choreographic residencies, lecture demonstrations, masterclasses and teacher training days based on the company's repertoire and unique movement vocabulary.
Tavaziva Dance’s Education Programme is suitable for both amateurs and professionals, and all sessions can be tailored to specific needs and requirements especially for GCSE, A-Level and BTEC Dance and Performing Arts students.

RECENT INTERNATIONAL WORK
2007 Zimbabwe: Bophelo
2008 Canada: City of Tribes

TOURING AVAILABILITY
Heart of Darkness from January 2009
Beautiful People June–August 2009