Educational partnerships committed to developing South Africa’s future "STEM Careers" (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
To compete in the technologically advanced playing fields of the global economy, South Africa needs to cultivate excellence in engineering and technology. But engineers are in short supply with electrical, civil and mechanical engineers topping the National Scarce Skills list. More worrying is that statistics suggest that every year fewer and fewer learners are opting to study maths and science, subjects critical to a tertiary education in engineering.
In a bid to challenge the statistics, PROTEC, an independent non-profit educational service provider, have made it their mission to support the growth of a technologically skilled human resource pool in South Africa. Specialising in mathematics and science support, PROTEC partner with corporate South Africa to facilitate programmes in various school districts.
This year Sanlam and PROTEC have once again joined forces in a educational partnership that will see a hub of excellence established in the Ehlanzeni district in Nelspruit. This new project will provide supplementary education for selected learners in Grade 10 who will progress through to Grade 12 in 2017. Learners from six feeder schools will attend Saturday classes in mathematics, science and English, as well as a ten day vacation school and five day vacation camp and World of Work (WOW) programme.
The programme runs for three years, with support continued into university and the first years of employment. A maximum of 50 learners are selected though selection tests. During the three years maths and science teachers from each of the six schools will also receive supplementary training, to the overall benefit of each school.
Founded in Soweto in 1982, PROTEC has made it its mission to increase the number of school leavers looking to pursue careers in science, technology and engineering by providing programmes, services and materials to both educators and learners. The early success of the organisation ensured its expansion into branches in KZN, Nelspruit and the Eastern Cape. PROTEC, in partnerships with various corporates, including Sanlam, run a number of projects in various school districts in South Africa.
A conduit between the sponsor and schools, and a partner with the Department of Education (DOE), PROTEC has become a leader in establishing working, relevant science and mathematics programmes. Every year PROTEC has shown a marked increase in their learners’ results and boasts a number of success stories.
“Our results are a testament to the PROTEC programme having operated effectively and I forsee this project with Sanlam benefitting the Nelspruit area and developing a wealth of young talent,” said Balan Moodley, CEO of PROTEC.
On the 25 April 2015, PROTEC and Sanlam will celebrate the launch of their excellence programme in Nelspruit.
Address of the launch:
Lekazi Secondary School
2434/5 Stand Street, Kanyamazane, Mpumalanga.
GPS Cordinates: 2547949; 3117361
Tel: 013 794 0207
Principal; Mr Sibiya 084 208 2042
Deputy Principal; Mr Mashigo 083 764 1210 (also Sanlam Project Coordinator)
For media accreditation, interview requests and access to high res photos please contact media@jtcomms.co.za or (011) 788 7632 and speak to Dee’s
Issued by JT Communication Solutions on behalf of PROTEC – www.protec.org.za
Are you South Africa’s next vocal sensation? If you are a gifted young jazz or opera singer, you could win a coveted SAMRO Overseas Scholarship.
Applications for the 2015 SAMRO Overseas Scholarships for singers are now open, but the 15 May 2015 deadline is fast approaching. Music students and young professionals aged 32 and younger are eligible to apply for these prestigious music study awards.
Every year since 1962, the SAMRO Foundation – which manages music education and corporate social investment programmes on behalf of the Southern African Music Rights Organisation – offers South Africa’s gifted music students the opportunity to win one of two lucrative scholarships to further their postgraduate studies overseas.
One of these is awarded in the Western Art (or “classical”) music genre and the other is presented for excellence in jazz music. The scholarships operate on a four-year cycle, alternating among instrumentalists, composers, keyboard players and singers.
In 2015, the SAMRO Foundation is inviting applications from music students majoring in vocal performance at a South African university. Applicants must be citizens of South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho or Swaziland, born after 15 May 1982.
The two main overseas scholarship awards are currently valued at R170 000 each, with a number of subsidiary prizes also available for exceptional candidates. The total prize pot for this highly regarded annual music competition amounts to almost R500 000.
The SAMRO Overseas Scholarships Competition has produced a gallery of illustrious singing alumni over the past 50 years.
After winning the 2011 SAMRO scholarship in the Western Art category, University of Cape Town alumnus Maudé Montierre went on to obtain her Master’s degree in opera cum laude at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London. Currently a PhD student at UCT, she hopes to become the youngest South African to graduate with a doctorate next year.
Since winning the SAMRO scholarship, Maudé has sung in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition in New York and was a finalist in the Wilhelm Stenhammar International Music Competition in Sweden. She has also been invited to sing at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival in Germany and the Glimmerglass Festival Young Artists’ Programme in the United States.
Among her roles to date, she counts appearances for Cape Town Opera as well as singing the challenging Queen of the Night aria from Die Zauberflöte for Brent Opera in London and Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel for Edinburgh’s Opera Holloway, to great acclaim. Maudé will be singing Donna Anna in Don Giovanni on London’s West End in July.
Fellow UCT graduate Vuyo Sotashe was always earmarked for great things. Even before winning the jazz singing category in the 2011 SAMRO Overseas Scholarships competition, Vuyo had performed with George Benson at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and had received a South African Music Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album with his church’s worship band, Proxy.
In 2012, he was selected to sing with the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Band at the Johannesburg Joy of Jazz Festival before touring Sweden with the band.
Vuyo was subsequently awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to further his studies in the United States and has also taken lessons with the likes of Maria Schneider and a Thelonious Monk Competition winner and Grammy nominated vocalist - Gretchen Parlato.
Both of these young music luminaries-in-the-making used their SAMRO scholarships as a springboard to greater things, and now the sky is certainly the limit for Vuyo and Maudé – as will be the case for this year’s winners.
The scholarships competition takes the format of three rounds, adjudicated by a panel of music experts and culminating in a public gala concert at the Linder Auditorium in Johannesburg. There, the two top candidates in each category will be required to perform a number of prescribed and individually selected compositions, accompanied by professional musicians.
Prospective candidates for the 2015 SAMRO Overseas Scholarships for singers are invited to download the regulations and the application form from the SAMRO Foundation website (www.samrofoundation.org.za). Applications should be submitted to: SAMRO Foundation, 20 De Korte Street, Braamfontein, 2017, before Friday, 15 May 2015. Enquiries may be directed to anriette.chorn@samro.org.za.
For interview requests, high resolution photos and media queries please contact JT Comms on media@jtcomms.co.za or (011) 788 7631/2
Issued by JT Communication Solutions on Behalf of SAMRO Foundation - www.samrofoundation.org.za
With less than a year under their belt and a dynamic, independent recording company behind them, 3rd Beat are shaping up to be one of South Africa’s most exciting new acts. Driven by their desire to get people moving and their need to make a social difference, theirs is a message of positivity wrapped in a good dance beat.
Tshepiso Maloka, Obakeng “Obvocal” Motshabi and Calvin Dismor were all born and raised in Ga-rankuwa, a township just north of Pretoria and have been friends since their childhood days. In 2014 the three decided to pool their musical talent into a dance group that would collaboratively compose and produce original, socially conscious music.
“We talk about real life issues – love, life, dreaming big and social issues and we hope to influence and encourage the youth positively. We want to give them hope with our music, telling them that despite the difficulties they face in life, they need to stay focused on their goals and one day they will achieve them,” said 3rd Beat vocalist Motshabi.
With Maloka on keyboards and Dismor handling the electronic elements, 3rd Beat have already started making their musical mark. Signed by African owned record company, Pure Bliss Recording, they have recently released their maiden EP (extended player) Wish to know your name featuring four singles, including the popular single of the same name. The EP is available both digitally and on CD.
“While we are aware that not many people buy CD’s anymore we want to cater for those who do, so our songs will also be available on CD,” said Motshabi.
Established in 2012 Pure Bliss Recording seek to unearth and nurture new talent, while creating platforms for existing artists. Their 21st century mindset is cased in the desire to add real value to the artists and public they serve. Although they may still be young in the industry, their track record already includes a number of successes including the release of Chagos maiden EP First time we met in June 2014 titled. Their EP catapulted to the number eight spot on Traxsource Afro House download charts within the first three days of release
For interview requests and access to high res photos please contact media@jtcomms.co.za or (011) 788 7632 speak to Dee’s
Issued by JT Communication Solutions of Behalf of Pure Bliss Recordings – www.pureblissrec.co.za
Join the conversation and take a stand and say "No to Xenophobia" #NoToXenophobia #EntrepreneurConnect #AfricanLivesMatter #PublicityConnect @AfricansForAfrica @JTComms Picture by: Simphiwe Nkwali
Statistics SA pegs the unemployment rate in the region of 24%, with unofficial quotas putting this figure at 45% if not higher.
The substantial contribution of SME’s to income, output and employment is evidence of the importance entrepreneurship plays in global economies. In Asia 95% of all corporations employ up to 80% of the labour force and constitute 60% of the GDP. Whereas in South Africa SME’s employ 45% of the economically active population and constitute 45% of the GDP (source: SA Journal of Economic and Management Sciences
With the world economies already under pressure, the financial crisis creates a particularly tough climate for SMEs, with a reduction in demand for goods and services and contraction in lending by banks and other financial institutions
Entrepreneur Connect aspires to give entrepreneurs the opportunity to use social media as a conduit to engage with their markets, create new revenue streams and introduce their product offering to global markets in collectives, using the technology to influence shifts in procurement patterns.
The key driver of the platform is to position leading African Entrepreneurs, influencers, thought leaders and practioners into strategic thinking collectives, and using technology as an enabler to introduce the #EntrepreurConnect collective and take products to markets.
The network combines an alliance of strategically thinking African Entrepreneurs comimg together to share knowledge and information and implement solutions and best practice while forming their own business journeys.
Work in progress prototypes prove that the opportunities are real, helping to advance delivery to ensure that digital conversations translate into business outcomes.
Created by JT Communication Solutions, #EntrepreneurConnect is a conscious platform founded to cultivate entrepreneurs and scale networks to create net worth and traction through a collective in an ecosystem that can sustain development.
In the first Twitter conversation on the #EntrepreneurConnect platform on 11 February 2015, a network of entrepreneurial women, all thought leaders in their various fields, shared their views on why connecting with other entrepreneurs is relevant and beneficial.
Ten ideas of why the collective can influence #wealth creation
It is clear to see from these view points above that #Entrepreneur Connect is able to tap into the various economies needed to grow. Networks are being built. The different expertise found in the collective will help in developing, creating, improving and perfecting the different products and services individually offered, thus giving a space to engage, focus on your product and build your network.
Written by Vanessa Perumal
With roots that go as deep as the history of funk itself and a long list of collaborations with the biggest names in the genre, funk wouldn’t be funk without alto-saxophonist Maceo Parker. For two nights only, Parker will be getting the “groove on” in Pretoria on 8 May and Johannesburg on 9 May.
In what he describes as an experience akin to university, Parker perfected his sound as sideman to James Brown. During the 1960s Parker and his drummer brother Melvin joined the James Brown band; it was the start of a partnership that would last for the next decade. Parker’s signature sound led, in part, to the band being recognised as early pioneers of modern day funk and hip-hop.
Constantly redefining his style, Parker continued to live the spirit of funk. He joined George Clinton's P-Funk Mothership, followed by stints with a number of other groups, becoming a golden thread that linked the style. In 1970 Parker, with some fellow James Brown band members, formed Maceo and All the Kings Men and released two albums that continue to remain popular. To date he has collaborated with Ray Charles, Ani Difranco, James Taylor, Prince, De La Soul, Dave Matthews Band and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
In 1990 Parker embarked on a solo career and while funk still defined his style, his music has become richly nuanced with the sounds of jazz and soul. He released two successful albums Roots Revisited (which spent 10 weeks at the top of Billboard's Jazz Charts in 1990) and Mo' Roots (1991). His third solo album Life on Planet Groove, recorded live in 1992, established him as a contemporary artist and boosted his exposure to a college-going audience. Albums like Funk Overload, Dial M-A-C-E-O and Made by Maceo cemented his catch phrase "2% Jazz, 98% Funky Stuff” with his audiences.
Parker has toured extensively with his own band and since 1999 he has participated in some of Prince's tours when time allowed. In July of 2012 Parker was presented with Les Victoires du Jazz in Paris: a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to music and during the same weekend he was presented with an Icon Award at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam.
The youth band Nu-Notes will be opening for Parker at both performances. The band is a group of young talented jazz musicians who are being mentored by trombonist, arranger and conductor Dan Selsick. They form part of the Cape Town Jazz Orchestra programme that aims to develop young South African musicians, through music education, skills development and creating performance platforms for young musicians.
Parker will be performing on the 08 May at the Brooklyn Theatre, Pretoria and 09 May at the Wits Theatre, Johannesburg. The concert starts at 20h00 and tickets cost R180.
Tickets can be booked from www.webtickets.co.za
For Interview requests and access to high resolution pictures contact JT Communication Solutions on media@jtcomms.co.za or 011 788 7632
Issued by JT Communication Solutions on Behalf of Cape Town Jazz Orchestra
As Africa steps into the future, the continent needs to shed its skin of negative narratives, primarily influenced by Western bias. The Africans for Africa Network, brainchild of Vanessa Perumal, is making bold, creative moves to ensure that there is a shift in narrative that not only celebrates all that is positive on the continent, but drives Africans to challenge, influence and disrupt the status quo.
To date the Africans for Africa Network has thrown itself behind Mali’s renowned, but now exiled Festival au Desert and in 2013 brought the spirit of the Festival to South Africa in a groundbreaking North-South collaborative residency which culminated in the African Peace Concert. Now Perumal is stepping it up with #EntrepreneurConnect, an innovative digital solution that, through social media, aims to unify and mobilise African entrepreneurs in a bid to create wealth and secure economic freedom.
Through her desire to change the African narrative, Perumal has experienced the remarkable power social media has to influence the mainstream media’s agenda. A creative entrepreneur and communications specialist, Perumal has spent the last ten years building JT Communication Solutions CC, known as JT Comms. During this time she has not only promoted some of South Africa’s and Africa’s finest musical talent, she has also developed the JT Comms African Media Resource Centre of Excellence and spearheaded the Africans for Africa Network. A graduate of the Goldman Sachs-Gordon Institute of Business Science 10,000 Women Certificate Programme for Women Entrepreneurs, Perumal has twice been nominated for the Arts and Culture Trust’s Publicist of the Year award and recently won the 2014 Mbokodo Award for Women Promoting Arts in the Media.
#EntrepreneurConnect is a collective of entrepreneurial women, all thought leaders in their fields, who, through leveraging their own social networks, will be able to capture the attention of a much larger network, shift opinion and influence change. Currently the collective is building the #EntrepreneurConnect network through interactive Twitter conversations on various topics.
Among the savvy entrepreneurs who share Perumal’s vision and are embracing the opportunity to work in collectives using technology to its advantage are Zinokwande journalist, film maker and alumni of the Mandela Washington fellow, Khanyi Mugubane. Other serial entrepreneurs in the network are experienced social activist, formally trained economist, developer and community engager Nomsa Mazwai.
Changemaker and social entrepreneur Hema Vallabh who through The Passionate Professional is creating a paradigm shift in the leadership development space. Rayana Edwards from Harem Clothing who is promoting a sacred economy through her project Saris for Change project is also championing #EntrepreneurConnect.
Other Entrepreneurs from across the country in the network include KwaZulu Natal social media strategist Amanda Mathe. Cape Town based Triple M Entertainment director Razia Myers joins #EntrepreneurConnect to show the value artist connecting to take their brands to market. Visionary innovators, creative’s, business influencers and innovators Maxine Jafta and Thuli Magubane and Audrey Mbuyazi are among the entrepreneurs in this growing network who are determined to use the opportunity the digital era enables to hunt in packs.
The first discussion was held on 11 February 2015, marking the day Nelson Mandela walked out of prison and at each session a new topic is discussed. Please join our conversation and use the opportunity through #EntrepreneurConnect to talk business.
Currently Perumal is developing an internet radio and TV platforms that will allow for these conversations to take place over two different mediums.
Ends.
After a very well received tour last year, the Swiss-South African jazz collaboration The Rainmakers return to perform at Cape Town International Jazz Festival and tour South Africa and Mauritius. With Swiss bassist Baenz Oester at the helm The Rainmakers will be performing at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival on March 28, 2015, followed by performances in East London, Durban, Johannesburg and Mauritius. For the second concurrent year, the band is, supported by Pro Helvetia, the Swiss arts council.
Considered as one of Europe’s foremost double bassists, Oester has been active on the Swiss and international jazz scene since the early eighties. He has performed and recorded with numerous musicians, as well as recording his debut solo album, Blosperment Suite, in 2007. Oester is joined by fellow Swiss jazz artist Ganesh Geymeier on tenor saxophone and South Africans Afrika Mkhize on piano and Ayanda Sikade on drums.
Their shared musical philosophy has seen this collaboration result in collaborative performances both here and in Switzerland and the release of an album, Playing at the Bird’s Eye, recorded live at the Basel jazz club in 2012. The band first toured Southern African in 2014.
Coloured by the band’s varying backgrounds and musical traditions, the quartet’s eclectic style is a unique combination of jazz and blues, African polyrhythms and Swiss and Bulgarian folk tunes. Dubbed the group as “music of intention” it has been described by the media as joyful and energetic.
Following the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, The Rainmakers head to East London performing at the Sterling Auditorium on March 29 and then to The Jazzy Rainbow, in Durban, on March 31.
The second part of tour takes place in Mauritius with a studio performance at MBC Studios, Reduit on April 2. This performance will be broadcast live on national radio. The Rainmakers will then be performing at the Francois Mitterrand National Conservatory for Music, in Quatre Borne, on April 3.
The tour concludes with two performances in Johannesburg, the first at Winnie’s Soul and Jazz Club on April 4 and the second at The Orbit on April 5.
Times and booking information:
| Gig Date and Venue | Gig Start Time | Ticket Price | Online & Purchase Details: |
| Saturday 28 March: Cape Town Jazz Fest, Cape Town(NB ALL TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT) | 19:30pm – 20:45pm: Rosies Stage(1 x set) | R530 Day PassR860 Weekend Pass
Extra fee of R30 per performance for patrons wishing to attend concerts on Rosies Stage. |
www.computicket.co.za, Checkers and Shoprite retail storesTravel Packages: Contact Tripos Travel on: Tell: +27 21 461 8613
For package bookings go to https://www.regonline.com/ctijf15 email: info@jazztourism.co.za |
For Interview requests and access to high resolution pictures contact JT Communication Solutions on media@jtcomms.co.za or 011 788 7632
Issued by JT Communication Solutions on Behalf of Pro Helvetia and the Swiss Arts Council - www.prohelvetia.org.za
Notes to Editor:
More about the Musicians:
Bandleader Baenz Oester has been active in the Swiss and international improvised jazz music scene since the early eighties, either on his own or as part of a collective and has collaborated on numerous projects. Currently he leads the quartet; Baenz Oester & The Rainmakers, and he plays with the WHO-Trio with Gerry Hemingway and Michel Wintsch, in Duo with vocal artist Andreas Schaerer, and as sideman with the Donat Fisch Trio/Quartet, Marcus Wyatt Quartet and others.
Tenor saxophone player Ganesh Geymeier is living in Vevey, Switzerland. He is one of the most popular Swiss sax players of the younger generation. He is member of the collective „Holunderblüten“ and also plays with numerous Swiss and French musicians including Matthieu Michel, Marc Méan, Emil Spanyi, Marcel Papaux, Malcolm Braff, Pierre Audetat, François Jeanneau, Glenn Ferris, Joe Quitzke and Sylvia Versini.
South African pianist Afrika Mkhize is currently living in Johannesburg. His distinctive style has cemented his reputation in South Africa and abroad. He is also a versatile producer and musical director and was the bandleader and musical director for the legendary Miriam Makeba Band. He has worked with many notable African, European and American artists.
Drummer Ayanda Sikade is currently living in Johannesburg. He plays with many South-African musicians including Feya Faku, Bheki Mseleku, Robbie Jansen, Barney Rachabane, Darius Brubeck. He was also a member of legendary saxophonist Zim Ngqawana’s band.
What the Swiss press have said about Baenz Oester and the Rainmakers:
Pro Helvetia Johannesburg:
Pro Helvetia Johannesburg facilitates exchange and collaboration between artists, projects and organizations in Southern Africa and Switzerland, through residencies and collaborative projects between the two contexts. Through an agreement with the SADC regional office of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) we also support transnational collaboration, mobility of artists and work, and network development within the SADC region.
Purebliss Recording is a name you want to remember – they moved into the music space with a dynamic approach and have taken the South African music industry by storm. This premier independent, African owned recording company has become the game changer in the music industry giving major recording companies a run for their money.
While they may be relatively young in the industry – established in 2012 – Purebliss Recording have discovered and nurtured some of the country’s most promising artists. Their latest offering is a group of three young men who make up 3rd Beat – these men are bringing the sexy back into dance music with their maiden EP (extended play) featuring four English sound tracks that promises to make dance music lovers burn up the dance floor. The EP will be released in the third week of March.
With the constantly changing dynamics in the music industry, Purebliss Recording have positioned themselves as a twenty-first century music entertainment company that leverages futuristic internet strategies while entrenching unwavering principles, said Purebliss Recording spokesman and 3rd Beat’s vocalist, Obakeng “Obvocal” Motshabi.
“Purebliss Recording is the creation of the music industry enthusiasts who share a stimulating and humble love for music. In a short space of time we have built a resolute team of artists and producers with years of experience spanning them,” said Motshabi.
Founded on the premise to unearth new talent and create a platform for existing artists – Purebliss first installment was the release of Chagos maiden EP in June 2014 titled First time we met and it happened through a license agreement with a German record label, Deep Pressure Music. Their EP catapulted to the number eight spot on Traxsource Afro House download charts within the first three days of release
Purebliss Recording continued in their stride with Calvin Dismor's Reciprocity EP featuring the sultry vocals of Moss Milla and Tshepi. Last year they ended on a high note with the release of DJ Sdumo's Deep Inversion EP. In 2015 they decided to keep their steady pace and up their stakes when they signed up 3rd Beat under their label.
Born and raised in Ga-rankuwa, a township north of Pretoria, childhood friends Tshepiso Maloka and Motshabi as well as Calvin Dismor came together to form 3rd Beat five months ago.
Motshabi said what sets 3rd Beat aside from other dance groups is their dynamic approach to good musicality – bringing together good content, beautiful sound, people interaction and a positive message.
“We talk about real life issues – love, life, dreaming big and social issues – this sets us apart from other artists and we hope to influence and encourage the youth positively. We give them hope with our music by telling them that despite the difficulties they face in life they need to stay focused on their goals and one day they will achieve them – in the midst of difficulty anything is possible,” said Motshabi.
Motshabi, Dismor and Maloka say the idea of 3rd Beat was born from the passion the three men have for music and their social conscience drive to encourage people to live better lives. The men have made a collaborative effort to produced and compose their own original tracks.
“While we are aware that not many people buy CD’s anymore we want to cater for those who do so our songs will also be available on CD,” said Motshabi.
Dismor, a music producer, promoter and electronic music enthusiast, keyboard master Maloka – who was influenced by his musically minded family, his father Enoch Maloka and uncles had a family band many years ago - and the Viking of vocals, Motshabi are determined to take 3rd Beat to great heights.
For media accreditation, interview requests and access to high res photos please contact media@jtcomms.co.za or (011) 788 7632 and speak to Dee’s
Issued by JT Communication Solutions of Behalf of Pure Bliss Recordings – www.pureblissrec.co.za
EDITOR’S NOTE:
For further info:
www.facebook.com/pureblissrecordings
Twitter handle: @Pureblissrec
www.facebook.com/pureblissrecordings
https://soundcloud.com/pureblissrecordings
http://www.pureblissrec.co.za
Management & Bookings:
Obakeng Motshabi (Spokesperson Purebliss Recordings)
M: +27 73 729 1850
E: bookings@pureblissrec.co.za
Inspired by Wouter Kellerman and Ricky Kej winning the 57th Grammy for Best New Age Album
A few thoughts on how we can influence the profiling of positive stories in the media, especially game-changing narratives that need to be heard, in a country where African stories play second fiddle to Western/ European news.
Following concern about the media apathy in covering South Africa’ first ever No. 1 Billboard New Age Chart topper Wouter Kellerman’s recent Grammy Award win for his collaborative album Winds of Samsara with India’s Riki Kej, it became evident the through digital technology, citizen activism can influence African Narratives.
Long after the win, South Africa’s public broadcaster showed visuals of the 57th Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony and led the story by highlighting international winners without any recognition to Wouter Kellerman.
The morning tabloids covered the Grammys with visuals and narratives of everyone else, except Wouter Kellerman, who is proudly South African. You would think being South African and winning this prestigious award would make local news. Sadly the opportunity to hear the story in real time was lost and is over.
At a time when leadership is critical to South Africa, a group of established, successful and inspiring South African women will take emerging leaders under their wing in a conversation-starting, paradigm-shifting event like no other. On the 8 March 2015, in celebration of International Women’s Day, directors, CEOs, CFOs, business executives and entrepreneurs will align themselves with women from around the world in the Global Mentoring Walk.
For many young professionals one of the most important steps in forging a successful career has been the guidance and support of a committed mentor. Research has shown that mentorship was the number one request of millennials worldwide. Effective mentorship can open doors to new networks, collaborations and opportunities and strengthens the leadership potential of young professionals. Research has also shown that 59% of individuals who have been mentored, go on to mentor others or “pay it forward” in some way building a positive cycle of leadership development.
Mentorship has also proven to be an effective strategy for meeting common challenges faced by professionals, particularly for those of certain demographic groups; for instance women who still face many challenges in today’s corporate environment.
Originally conceived by American media icon, founder and former CEO of Oxygen Media, Geraldine Laybourn, the Global Mentoring Walk pairs together mentors with young professionals and aspiring leaders. Since 2008, through the Vital Voices Global Leadership Network spearheading events in their respective countries, over 30 countries now partake in the initiative, South Africa included. Hosted by The Passionate Professional, a leadership incubator founded by Hema Vallabh, the Global Mentoring Walk will see over 100 women walkers enjoy the beauty of a Joburg summer’s day while forging relationships that could change their careers and lives. Over 40 mentors have been invited to take part in this closed event with potential mentees given the opportunity to apply for one of the coveted positions alongside them.
“The success of the Mentoring Walk really boils down to providing a conducive environment to introduce mentoring relationships. You have top successful C-suite executives next to young ambitious leaders, all donned in t-shirts and slacks, taking a walk in the park and simply having a chat as women. That's when the magic happens!" says Vallabh, a thought leader in mentorship in South Africa.
Hema launched the Mentoring Walk concept in South Africa in 2013 and has since hosted four successful events, including the Global Mentoring Walk in 2013 and 2014. While some mentees take away a new sense of purpose from these walks, many of the pairings have resulted in ongoing mentorship relationships. Vallabh believes that events such as the Global Mentoring Walk go a long way towards breaking the stigma that successful women are not forthcoming in helping other women reach similar positions.
"I fundamentally believe that mentorship, when done right, can be such a powerful leadership development tool, and as such I am passionate about creating awareness and platforms to advance the practice of mentorship in a meaningful and impactful way," says Vallabh who through The Passionate Professional hosts a number of events aimed at promoting and building successful mentoring partnerships.
For more information about Global Mentoring Walk visit www.mentoringwalk.co.za and The Passionate Professional www.thepassionateprofessional.org.
For media queries, interview request, access to high res pics etc please contact JT Comms on media@jtcomms.co.za or (011) 788 7631/2
Issued by JT Communication Solutions on behalf of The Passionate Professional
Notes:
The Passionate Professional is a leadership incubator focused on developing leaders through mentorship. Using mentorship as a leadership development tool, The Passionate Professional is creating a paradigm shift in the way mentorship is understood, approached and implemented. This is achieved through its novel and impactful range of Mentorship-related experiential training and service offerings.
Founder and CEO of The Passionate Professional has over eight years of experience in designing, building and successfully operating Mentorship and Coaching programs. An alumna of the FORTUNE/U.S. State Department Global Women's Mentoring program, she has become a mentorship specialist, developing key content and interventions which she now hosts under her Leadership Incubator.
Being a chemical engineer by profession with five years of technical experience with a large South African corporate, Hema has a first-hand understanding of the corporate structure and culture that exists in the South African business world. Complimented with two years of international exposure living and working abroad and seven years of building and expanding the global non-profit organisation WomEng (which in itself has a strong focus on mentorship) and a qualification as a Certified Ontological Coach, Hema brings together a wealth of experience and powerful combination of expertise.
In a global decline the one thing no one can afford to lose in between everything else is HOPE. Entrepreneurs under the whip need to keep it together and ensure the wheels of the economy allows for growth in spite of difficult markets
Our top tips on how you can survive the low down and embrace new opportunity to expand your prospects into new markets while you plan your next move
Ten options that could shift markets
The creative economy thrives only when the full value chain of the wheel turns and the traction allows for growth to all stakeholders.
South Africans are known to appreciate and support any offering that showcases Western, European music offerings over domestic or African products. The problem with this equation is that when market opportunities allow for SA content to be showcased. Often the reality is that music platforms don’t translate to financial income projections Based on African trends this could be a recurring trend continentally
In a technology savvy era where social rules the roost does medium translate to scaling awareness to audiences who will pay to support domestic music offerings from events, festivals, selling CD’s, create demand for speaking engagements, brand ambassadorship etc. The effort to work in collectives must be key to champion a shift in audience development.
Understanding your target market needs is essential. To test market it’s important that artists are constantly in tune with their audience needs. Social media platforms allow for broader engagement. However even in a social media era stay ahead of the pack and speak to your audiences on their platforms
Produce music offerings that can be scaled to fit with demand of your audience base vs producing around your needs. Distinguish between authenticity and self indulgence. With revenue stream challenged artists need to think out of the box in all their offerings
Create ambassadors for your brand and products
Feed into the demand and not the wish list
Concentrating on your artistic excellence is no longer possible if there are gaps in the value chain
Create the market you need to scale your offering, Whether its for a concert in the Park, a full-on theatre, a festival bill with other artists a
Build your network and create your future audience
See real estate as an opportunity to profile
Dance exponent and entrepreneur, Versha Magan prides herself in being the best – in the last two decades she has led the change in the dance industry in the country.
Magan’s passion and drive for dancing has earned her a respected name in the entertainment industry and she is leaving behind evolutionary footprints in dance.
With her latest production, Badtamasti Returns, she will transport her audience to the bustling streets of Mumbai, the home of Bollywood – with her vibrant and spectacular dance performances. Her production, of Badtamasti, last year bears testament to her new and innovative styles of dance which she is constantly creating.
She received much applaud for her show last year and due to public demand she is back with an unforgettable performance. The show will be staged at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City on February 21 and will show case a diversity of movement, complimented with talented dancers and beautiful costumes.
Magan’s work is evident of her commitment to the industry – having quit her job in the corporate world after 15 years to follow her heart.
“Badtamasti Returns” has much to offer the audience – while listening to the vibrant music the dance sequences will be interpreted in a beautiful South African, Bollywood and contemporary styles. The concept is fun through dance which creates moments of laughter and joy – the uniqueness of the production is in the choreography. We have professional dancers who have joined us to elevate the standard of dance from the youngest to the more experienced,” she said.
Magan’s business model developed from the idea of spreading the knowledge of culture and arts to the youth who had little opportunity or needed to travel to Lenasia for dance classes. She set the trend with the idea of travelling to places where she saw the need – an idea other dance schools followed. Magan said through this effort, much opportunity has been created for many who are passionate about dance.
“I wanted to make a difference by developing the youth and woman of our community – and it’s been a gratifying experience for me. I wanted to provide opportunities for others that never had it before, by creating platforms for them to soar to greater heights. My first success was a personal goal to step out of a nine to five job and follow a dream - my passion then was the idea of the dance academy,” she said. She said the challenges she faces with her job is the pressure of academics that takes priority - but she said some parents need to understand, giving a child the freedom to express through a talent or art form other than academics assists in creating a holistic child. The mind is balanced and has an opportunity to develop differently, she said.
“Dance helps with discipline, balance, exercise, co-ordination, muscle tone, direction and allows a person to go within and connects you with the divine,” she said.
Magan is a seasoned dance instructress, choreographer, artistic director and actor – her latest role sees her making a debut in the upcoming Afrikaans film Stom, where she plays a doctor.
Dancing from the age of eight, Magan was first drawn to the graceful art of ballet and then moved over to modern dance. Later she was bitten by the Bollywood bug and was fascinated by the energetic dance style.
She has taught dance at the Jhankaar School of Dance for the last 21 years, has been dancing for 35, teaching the art for over 25, and doing choreography for almost 17. Magan is the director of Jazzy Masala Creative and runs a talent agency– which prides itself in teaching various dance forms with a strong base in kathak and also includes ballet, jazz, hip-hop, Bollywood jazz and contemporary dance to keep up with an industry that is constantly evolving and always looking for something new.
“South African Indian dance has very few, if not any, platforms where the beautiful art can be performed and enjoyed by artists and audiences. Jazzy Masala Creative’s aim is to create these opportunities and allows professionals together with students to perform on the same platform which enables them to learn and progress from each other. My students are from across all race groups and love Indian dance.”
She said Jazzy Masala Creative is the first to give opportunities to choreographers who are eager to create new and innovative moves to Indian music, under her guidance. Choreographers Douglas Sekete, Thulani Chauke and Steven Phele have worked with her on productions.
Part of Magan’s training has been in the north Indian kathak style of dance, which she learnt in London and later ventured into contemporary Bollywood jazz. For her, teaching dance and creating new ways of moving has been the “most rewarding experience spiritually, physically and mentally”. Her corporate marketing background has also put her in good stead to make her business a success.
Magan says that she owes much of her success to founder of Jhankaar School of Dance, Dr Ranjit Lalloo, who made her childhood dream become a reality by offering her the chance to choreograph dance sequences for 18 of his productions. Two of her acclaimed dance pieces, Garam Masala and Traffic were born from working on Lalloo’s Mumbai Nagari.
For media queries, interview requests and access to high resolution publicity photos contact Dee’s on media@jtcomms.co.za or call (011) 788 7632
Issued by JT Communication Solutions on behalf of Versha Magan and Jazzy Masala Creative
EDITOR’S NOTE
Among her many career highlights her choreography with Surya in 2007 and Garam Masala a year later which was showcased at the FNB Dance Umbrella. She assisted with the choreography for the internationally acclaimed 2006 production of Red by Raza Jaffrey who performed in Bombay Dreams with Andrew Lloyd Webber. Magan also assisted with the choreography in the production of Fusion, by Tyrone Watkins and choreographed the Bollywood dance scenes as well as played a supporting role in South Africa’s comedy king, Leon Schuster’s, Mr Bones II – Back from the Past. Magan also played a role in the popular local soapie Isidingo where she played the character of Meera.
Her previous productions include Naach (2009), Dil Se (2010), Desh Ya Pardes (2010), Armaan (2011), Rang (2012), Footprints of a Dancer (2013) and Badtamasti (2014).
