Stage: Dance Intersect 2024, Meet the Dancers in Silent Symphony of Feelings

Dance Intersect 2024 will be on stage this week – Thursday June 6, Friday June 7 and Saturday June 8 (four performances) – in Cape Town in the Baxter Pam Golding. This much anticipated dance theatre platform, presented by Anderson Carvalho Dance & Choreography (ACDC) features four companies. One ticket provides access to the whole programme. Each performance includes all four companies. Read on for more about the seven dancers in ACDC’s Silent Symphony of Feelings:

Dance Intersect 2024: Meet the Dancers in Silent Symphony of Feelings

In a four-month residency, dancers from a spectrum of countries and approaches have been devising Silent Symphony of Feelings a new dance theatre piece, with Anderson Carvalho Dance & Choreography (ACDC). Silent Symphony of Feelings will be presented at The BaxterPam Golding in Cape Town next month (June 6, 7, 8, 2024), as part of Dance Intersect 2024- an innovative platform of dance theatre – which incorporates a vital alliance  of dance expressions, approaches and genres. This is the second year of Dance Intersect and the first year at the Baxter Theatre centre.

Anderson Carvalho of ACDC is proud to present the multi-national and diverse company for Dance Intersect- from South Africa, USA, Holland, Poland and Europe. ACDC is a company based in Holland, headed up by Brazilian/Dutch choreographer. ACDC works on a project-to-project basis, devising new works with creatives who respond to an open call for auditions put out in international dance websites or who have worked why ACDC previously.

There are seven dancers on stage in Silent Symphony of Feelings

Weronika Kamińska (Polish, based in London)

Gemma Trehearn (SA, based in Cape Town)

Nicolas Laubscher (SA based in Cape Town)

Caitlyn Casson, (USA, based in New York)

Rhapsody Stiggers (USA, based in Boston)

Sofie van Doorn(Dutch, based in Haarlem)

Alice Maybin (SA, based in Cape Town)

Creative team

Choreographer – Anderson Carvalho (Brazil/Holland) Instagram @andrsoncarvalho

Choreography advisor – Lindy Raizenberg (SA, Cape Town)

Assistant choreographer – Farnel Smart (SA, based in Cape Town) Instagram http://@fifi_von

On stage saxophone – Adam Claussen (Dutch, based in Holland) Adam, has written music for film and dance and scored the music for ACDC’s previous works in South Africa Instagram http://claussenmusic/

About the dancers

Weronika Kaminska is a Polish dancer, currently based in London, UK. Weronika has worked with various international choreographers and companies; she transitions between theatre and film. She has performed work by Marco Goecke, appeared in Vogue Magazine campaign and earned acclaim at film festivals. Her contributions to the dance world were recognized with a Statuette for outstanding achievements by the association of Polish theatre, film, radio, and television artists.

“I heard about the ACDC Dance Intersect project through a friend of mine who had previously worked with Anderson, and I applied for the project. I adore Cape Town’s sunny days and breath-taking sunsets, where music and dance infuse the vibrant city with life.”

Instagram http://@weronika.kaminskaa

Gemma Trehearn

Gemma Trehearn lives in Cape Town. After graduating from the Cape Academy of Performing Arts, in 2015, Gemma danced with The Cape Dance Company, Cape Town City Ballet for five years, Jazzart Dance Theatre, played Minnie in West Side Story at the Fugard Theatre and danced with Darkroom Contemporary. She is also a yoga teacher.

“After watching ACDC perform in 2023 I was very moved and intrigued by the work of Anderson and the dancers. I met up with Anderson and a few months after auditioned for this project now in 2024. I love Cape Town for its relaxed outlook on life, the people and most importantly, the ocean and the mountains.”

Instagram http://@gemjoytree

Facebook Gemma Joy Trehearn

Nicolas Laubscher

Nicholas Laubscher graduated from CAPA (Cape Academy of Performing Arts) with distinctions in 2018 and followed that up with postgrad studies in 2019. He danced with CTCB (Cape Town City Ballet) from 2020-2023 and became a freelancer in 2023. Nicholas has danced with companies such as ACDC (Anderson Carvalho Dance Choreography), Darkroom Contemporary and Mzansi Ballet.

“I watched Dance Intersect in 2022 and immediately became interested in the work. I danced my first year with ACDC last year. This is my second year being a part of this incredible platform”.

Facebook Nicolas Laubscher

Instagram http://@nicolaslaubscher

Caitlyn Casson

Caitlyn Casson is a global performing artist, choreographer, and teacher. She has travelled across the globe to perform and teach at prestigious venues such as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Kigali Ubumuntu Festival, Fringe Istanbul, Centro Cultural Kirchner in Buenos Aires, Fondation des États-Unis Paris and The Place in London. Since 2013, she has been working as an International Dance Trainer with MindLeaps to East and West Africa and Eastern Europe. Caitlyn resides in NYC where she is a freelance contemporary dance artist and yoga teacher. She is excited to be in Cape Town to work with Anderson Carvalho Dance Company.

“I originally found Dance Intersect through an online dance audition platform, but Anderson and I also have a mutual connection through the non-profit organization called MindLeaps. We have both worked with MindLeaps in Kigali, Rwanda. My favourite thing about Cape Town is that you can find the city, the mountains, and the beach all in one place.”

Instagram http://@caitishappy

Facebook Caitlyn Casson

TikTok @caitishappy

Rhapsody Stiggers

Rhapsody Stiggers began her journey with dance at two years old, at the Minnesota Dance Theater in Minneapolis. She mainly studied classical ballet and Graham growing up, but has transitioned into contemporary, West African, Horton, jazz and improvisation. Rhapsody has spent her final semester at The Boston Conservatory and is now working with choreographer Anderson Carvalho in Cape Town, South Africa.

“I saw the casting call for Dance Intersect 2024 on the audition website called dancing opportunities.org and applied there. I am absolutely in love with the city. Everyone is so warm and friendly, the weather is perfect and it is so much more diverse compared to Boston.”

Instagram http://@rhap_city

Facebook rhapsody Stiggers

Alice Kelly Maybin

Alice Maybin was born and raised in South Africa and currently resides in Cape Town. She graduated with a BMUS Degree in Dance and Choreography from the University of Cape Town. Throughout her professional career, she has performed with various dance companies including the Kalk Bay Theatre, The Brigitte- Reeve Dance Company, and SANDT (The South African National Dance Trust). Being a passionate lover of movement, she also qualified as a STOTT Pilates instructor in Matwork, Reformer, and Barre. For the past four years, she also ran the Contemporary Dance Department at Reddam House Durbanville where she zoned in on her choreographing.

“I have worked with Anderson over the past two years, and this is my third season working with him. Despite initially deciding not to approach him for the 2024 season due to personal changes, I was pleasantly surprised when Anderson called me a month into the season and asked if I wanted to join. I immediately said yes. I feel like Anderson, and I have always worked well together and understand each other. I have learned so much from him. He has a special place in my heart, and I feel like a better dancer and person after each season with him. Although I am starting to look at going abroad, I will always have a special love for Cape Town. The people, the scenery – there is nowhere else like it”.

Instagram http://@alicekellymaybin

Facebook Alice Kelly Maybin

Sofie van Doorn 

Sofie van Doorn is a Dutch/American dancer based in the Netherlands. She graduated with a BA in Contemporary Dance from the Zurich University of the Arts and has worked internationally with companies such as T42 Dance Projects in Switzerland. She also has created her own works for the Vuurol Theater Festival in the Netherlands, and as an artist in residence at both the Guadalupe Mountains and Hot Springs National Parks in the United States. 

“I found the application call for Dance Intersect 2024, on a dance audition website and sent it, thinking it would be an amazing opportunity but not having any expectations. Then through the interview process I got to meet Anderson and GT and hear about the project and thought it would be a very inspiring opportunity. So, when they sent me the invitation I knew it was the place I needed to be. This is my first time being in Cape Town, and I’ve been really enjoying being in a city where you can both see the mountains and the ocean. “

Instagram http://@sofiewithanf

Farnel Smart

Farnel Smart (they/them) started their tertiary education in dance at CAPA (Cape Academy of Performing Arts) under the artistic direction of Debbie Turner. After that, Farnel joined the Cape Dance Company for two consecutive years dancing works by Christopher L Huggins, Adele Blank and Mthuthuzeli November. They then joined Darkroom Contemporary, dancing various works for almost to five years. Farnel is currently working alongside Anderson to create their new work.

“I approached Anderson at the last Intersect to be part of his creative team. Cape Town is Africa’s most cosmopolitan city, divers in culture, stemmed in history and eternally beautiful.”

Instagram http://@fifi_von

Facebook: Farnel Smart

Programme and performance details for Dance Intersect 2024

Dance Intersect 2024 features: Anderson Carvalho Dance & Choreography (ACDC) with Silent Symphony of Feelings, Ballet de Barcelona from Spain, SboNdaba Dance (guest company, South Africa) and Lee van der Merwe (guest Choreographer, South Africa

There are four performances: June 6 and 7 at 7.30pm. On June 8, there are two performances – at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Each performance features all the participating companies and dancers:  One ticket provides access to the entire programme. Each performance includes three intervals. Running time (with interval) is 80- 90 minutes.

Ticket prices – one ticket provides access to the entire programme

Tickets are R250-R350, Book through Webtickets  or visit the Baxter on https://baxter.uct.ac.za/

For school or group bookings, fundraisers or charities contact Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993 or email carmen.kearns@uct.ac.za or Nontsikelelo Maboza on 021 680 3984 or email nontsikelelo.maboza@uct.ac.za

❇ Sponsored content. There are seven dancers in Silent Symphony of Feelings, presented by Anderson Carvalho Dance & Choreography (ACDC). This new dance piece premieres in Cape Town in the Baxter Pam Golding as part of Dance Intersect 2024, presented and produced by ACDC. The season runs June 6, 7, 8, 2024 (four performances). Pics by Marko de Beer.