Illustrious Creative Team for 2013 ACT Scholarship Awards Finals MyZA

Jacques Bessenger and Dawid Boverhoff join forces as Artistic Director and Musical Director respectively, to bring out the best in some of the country’s top young creative talent as they compete for a chance to have their tertiary education sponsored.

The Finals of the 2013 ACT | DALRO | Nedbank Performing Arts Scholarship Awards will be held at UJ Arts and Culture in Johannesburg later this month, where three scholarships, totaling R315 000, will be awarded to support the winners’ tertiary studies in the performing arts. Needing to prove their ‘triple-threat’ skills, the six finalists will each prepare singing, dancing and acting solos, and two group numbers, for performance in front of a live audience and distinguished judging panel.

“It’s a privilege to work with some of the country’s top talent. Dawid and I have a great working relationship and both enjoy the organic development of creative processes. Working with young talent is a very fragile process and we try our best to make sure that the finalists have a life changing experience both as performers and human beings.” said Bessenger.

Jacques Bessenger is well-known in the South African performing arts industry; working as an actor, theatre-maker and director. He has been the Artistic Director for the ACT | DALRO | Nedbank Scholarship Finals since 2010. Bessenger is best known for his role as Renier in the popular television drama series, Erfsondes, which earned him a 2013 SAFTA nomination and the ATKV Media Veertjie Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series. He received a NuMetro KykNET Silwerskerm Award in 2012 for his portrayal of the courageous Robert McLachlan in the critically acclaimed movie,Verraaiers and a Tempo Award nomination in 2013 as Actor of the Year for his work in Erfsondes and Verraaiers. Despite his roles in numerous film, theatre and radio productions, and as a passionate teacher, Bessenger is likely to be most familiar to South African audiences through his appearances in several popular South African soaps. He has appeared in 7de Laan, Villa Rosa, Binnelanders and Isidingo, and can currently be seen on screens in KykNET’s new drama series, Donkerland, written by Deon Opperman.

Since his professional debut as accompanist of Who Stole the Orchestra at the Oude Libertas Amphiteater, Dawid Boverhoff has worked as Assistant Musical Director on major musicals including Saturday Night Fever, Footloose, Starlight Express and Grease. He was rehearsal pianist for Lied van my Hart, Tree Aan and Beauty and the Beast, and keyboard deputy for Phantom of the Opera. Boverhoff began his diverse musical training at the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir School, matriculating at Pro Arte Alphen Park, before obtaining a Bachelor Degree in Music Composition from the Utrecht School of the Arts. He has composed music for various theatre productions including Sing, Elke Ander Duim ‘n Dame, The Crucible, and most recently Die Hart is ‘n Eensame Jagter. His !Xun San String Quartet and song cycle Kamermusiek were both commissioned by the SAMRO Foundation.

“ACT is proud to have these exemplary professionals on board for the third year running. The entire production is put together in less than five days, which makes for a hugely stressful process. Jacques and Dawid’s work ethic, dedication and patience are admirable. I believe we can once again look forward to a captivating night of entertainment on 30 September,” says Chief Executive Officer of the Arts Culture Trust, Pieter Jacobs.

An exciting development this year is a new partnership with the Forgotten Angle Collaborative Theatre Company (FATC) under the direction of well-known choreographer, PJ Sabbagha. FATC company member and choreographer, Charleston van Rooyen, is choreographing the finalists’ opening dance number and will offer feedback on their solo dance pieces leading up to the final round.

Chosen through a national audition process, the finalists of the 2013 ACT | DALRO | Nedbank Performing Arts Scholarships are: Capetonians Arlin Bantam, Sinead Donnelly and Michaela Moses; Naledi Majola from KZN; Sibusiso Mxosana from the Eastern Cape and Joburg-based Kamogelo Nche.

The 2013 panel of judges comprises: Kgomotso Christopher, perhaps best-known as Katlego Sibeko on SABC3′s Isidingo; television and radio personality Rozanne McKenzie; Manager of Talent Etc, Jennis Williamson; creative entrepreneur David April; Musical Theatre Performer and Teacher, Nacia Kruger; and Producer, Director and ACT Trustee, Themi Venturas. The event will be hosted by the sparkling Wits Drama Graduate, Altovise Lawrence – an aspiring MC who was also chosen through countrywide auditions.

For more information on the Scholarships programme, please visit www.act.org.za.

Author: Fiona Gordon.
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