#TRADITIONALDANCE All is set for the 2013 Jikinya Dance Festival slated for the Large City Hall in Bulawayo on November 29, 2013.
The festival is themed ‘Our Culture: A Spring of Diversity and Harmony’ underscores the various traditional dance types that will be showcased by primary schools participating at the festival.
“The different dances that will be showcased will be a reflection of endless diversity that is found in the different community of Zimbabwe. In the diversity there is a peaceful love existence that will bring the nation together to celebrate our culture and pride,” said National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) Communications and Marketing Officer Catherine Mthombeni.
She also revealed that the common (compulsory) dance for the festival was the Jerusarema Mbende and all schools will also showcase a dance of their choice.
“The common dance was introduced so that all participating children, despite their regions can learn, perform and appreciate diverse Zimbabwean cultures.
“Jerusarema Mbende was proclaimed a masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
“We are also delighted to inform you that the Vice Chancellor of the Women’s University in Africa Professor Hope Sadza donated a trophy for common dance dubbed ‘Prof. Hope Sadza Trophy for Outstanding Common Dance Performance’,” added Mthombeni.
The winning school at the National Jikinya Dance Festival will be the guest group at the National Culture Week launch in May 2014 as well as the National Independence Celebrations in April, 2014.