Tumbuka Dance Company - Survival Fund
A$4,301
of $4,000 targetyrs ago
Successful on 18th Feb 2012 at 12:00AM.
Tumbuka: a Shona word which means to bloom or to flower
INTRODUCING TUMBUKA
Tumbuka Dance Company is Zimbabwe's only professional contemporary dance company. Formed in 1992, Tumbuka have danced their way to critical media and audience acclaim both locally, and on the international dance circuit.
As Tumbuka approach their 20th anniversary, after years of struggle for survival in a country wracked by exceptionally difficult social and political issues, Zimbabwe's only contemporary dance company is on the brink of closure within the next six months as its funding base is in collapse.
Tumbuka Dance Company - Survival Fund from margie mackay on Vimeo.
To help prevent yet more trauma and loss to the cultural fabric and contemporary artistic expression in Zimbabwe, funds are urgently needed. Even the smallest amount is of help and gratefully received. Pledges of just $1 are enough to buy a dancer a bottle of clean, cholera-free water. Each and every donation contributes hugely to the success of this project, the well being of the dancers and the survival of the company.
ZIMBABWE TODAY
As experienced in many African countries, life is exceptionally tough in Zimbabwe. With a current unemployment rate between 95 - 97%, and no welfare available, the Tumbuka dancers have little possibility of finding other means of surviving and face crushing poverty. Zimbabwe has one of the highest cost of living rates in Africa, and after 30 years of societal and political unrest, a buckling health system and widespread epidemics of cholera and HIV infection, these artists are in desperate need of your support to keep them afloat, in good health and creative.
Today, there is no on-going funding in sight for Tumbuka. The company is desperately striving to keep creating artistic works, performing and rehearsing repertoire, whilst juggling administrative tasks such as writing funding applications and searching for philanthropic support - all this on steadily dwindling funds. Resources for the arts are scant in a country like Zim.
It is timely to ask the global art community - drawing on the generosity of spirit evoked by the global Occupy Movement - to help their fellow artists in need.
NATIONAL BALLET STUDIO DISASTER - STOP PRESS!!!!!
Adding insult to this unthinkable injury, Tumbuka's dance studios at The National Ballet buildings have become victim to the ravages of time. In late October 2011 the roof of the dance studio caved in leaving the building dangerous, structurally unsound and completely unviable as a rehearsal space. This disaster has put increased stress on Tumbuka's resources and jeopardizes their possible survival. Whilst it is believed that the insurance company will (in time) fix the building, in the interim Tumbuka are struggling to find affordable and suitable alternative rehearsal space and to respond to the resulting burden of increased operational costs.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Speaking on behalf of Tumbuka's Artistic Director, Gilbert Douglas, this campaign seeks to raise funds that will tide the company over the upcoming holiday season and into the New Year so that Tumbuka can reach their goals of celebrating their 20th Anniversary and performing new works at the Harare International Festival of the Arts in April 2012.
Tumbuka Dance Company - awaiting performance at a local wedding - trying to help make ends meet
As the lowest possible benchmark, $4000 will keep the 10 dancers, their Manager and Artistic Director on pure subsistence/ survival income for 3 months. At roughly $100 each per month (an income far lower than security guards and police), these funds will enable them to continue to train and create work.
Clearly more funding is required to ensure the longevity of the company beyond early 2012, let alone improve the individual dancer's standard of living, so please give generously and support contemporary dance and dancers in Zimbabwe.
$4000 is just our starting goal - let's try and quadruple this amount to ensure 12 months survival for Tumbuka Dance Company!
AN ALTERNATIVE XMAS PRESENT
Pledges could be this year's 'alternative' Christmas gift for friends and family. Each pledge is sure to make a huge difference to the lives of the dancers - $25 will cover the costs of transport and food for one dancer for one week.
If you would like to give this donation as a gift, please remember to add a request for a TUMBUKA SURVIVAL FUND XMAS GIFT VOUCHER to your pledge of $25 and above. Vouchers include images from performances and are signed by the Artistic Director.
TUMBUKA's PERFORMANCE HISTORY (in brief)
In March 1993, less than a year after its formation, Tumbuka gave its first public performance in South Africa at Johannesburg’s Dance Umbrella Festival. Tumbuka danced their way to the Umbrella’s first standing ovation in its five-year history and were subsequently presented with awards for the best choreographer and most promising male dancer.
Since this time, the Company has gone from strength to strength and has performed widely across the African Region including: Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Ivory Coast, Angola, Nigeria, Senegal, Reunion Island, Madagascar and South Africa. Other International destinations have included: France, Germany, Switzerland, the U.K., Slovakia, Belgium, Denmark, and Belize among others.
In more recent years, in spite of turbulent times within the nation, under the Artistic Direction of Gilbert Douglas the company has continued to tour and perform and are still proudly considered by both the artistic and wider community as Zimbabwe’s Premier Contemporary Dance Company.
The 5 Million Zim Dollar reward: 1 free pass to one Tumbuka performance either in Zimbabwe or abroad during 2012.
1 chosen / 699 available
Est. delivery is Jun 26
The 10 Million Zim Dollar reward: 2 free passes to one Tumbuka performance either in Zimbabwe or abroad during 2012.
7 chosen / 293 available
Est. delivery is Jun 26
The 25 Million Zim Dollar reward: 2 free passes to two Tumbuka performances either in Zimbabwe or abroad during 2012. Optional TUMBUKA SURVIVAL FUND XMAS GIFT VOUCHER available on request.
6 chosen / 144 available
Est. delivery is Jun 26
The 50 Million Zim Dollar reward: 1 Free pass to all Tumbuka's performances in Zimbabwe and abroad during 2012. Optional TUMBUKA SURVIVAL FUND XMAS GIFT VOUCHER available on request.
7 chosen / 93 available
Est. delivery is Jun 26
The 100 Billion Zim Dollar reward: 2 Free passes to all Tumbuka's performances in Zimbabwe and abroad during 2012. Optional TUMBUKA SURVIVAL FUND XMAS GIFT VOUCHER available on request.
2 chosen / 28 available
Est. delivery is Jun 26
The 10 Trillion Zim Dollar reward: 4 Free passes to all Tumbuka's performances in Zimbabwe and abroad during 2012, a letter of recognition of support from Gilbert Douglas - Artistic Director, as well as recognition of support on performance programs during 2012. Optional TUMBUKA SURVIVAL FUND XMAS GIFT VOUCHER available on request.
2 chosen / 13 available
Est. delivery is Jun 26
The 100 Trillion Zim Dollar reward: 6 Free passes to all Tumbuka's performances in Zimbabwe and abroad during 2012, a letter of recognition of support from Gilbert Douglas - Artistic Director, as well as recognition of support on performance programs during 2012. Optional TUMBUKA SURVIVAL FUND XMAS GIFT VOUCHER available on request.
0 chosen / 10 available
Est. delivery is Jun 26
The 5-so-many-Trillion Zim Dollar reward: 6 VIP seating and Free passes to all Tumbuka's performances in Zimbabwe and abroad during 2012, a letter of recognition of support from Gilbert Douglas - Artistic Director, as well as recognition of support on performance programs during 2012. Optional TUMBUKA SURVIVAL FUND XMAS GIFT VOUCHER available on request.
0 chosen / 5 available
Est. delivery is Jun 26
The NO ZIM DOLLARS reward: unlimited VIP seating and Free passes to all Tumbuka's performances in Zimbabwe and abroad during 2012, a letter of recognition of support from Gilbert Douglas - Artistic Director, as well as recognition of support on performance programs during 2012. Plus DVD of collected works. Optional TUMBUKA SURVIVAL FUND XMAS GIFT VOUCHER available on request.
0 chosen / 4 available
Est. delivery is Jun 26