73 Drama@Kearsney Music@Kearsney In the world of music, few events are as captivating and awe-inspiring as a choir and orchestra festival. The Freedom Day Music Festival was a celebration of music, where melodious and soul-stirring performances created an experience that the musicians from around the province will remember for many years. (Read more about this event in the choir report). Acclaimed Physical Theatre practitioner Tim Redpath ran the 2023 Drama@Kearsney workshop. The workshop, which spanned over two days, introduced students to the basic tenets of physical theatre and aimed at equipping actors with the tools to tell stories through their bodies. Eight schools participated, and the students were divided into groups with people they had never met. Friendships were quickly forged as like-minded teens sought to create compelling theatrical moments together. On the final evening, each group presented a short physical theatre piece, showcasing the skills they had learned over the two days. Drama@Kearsney continues to be one of the highlights of our Culture@Kearsney festival as it truly forges bridges, develops soft skills and promotes creativity, empathy and teamwork. One of our Kearsney students described the final night of performances as 'the best night of his life' because he got to make theatre with kindred spirits who were as passionate about performance as he is, which ultimately bears testimony to the success of this event in our cultural calendar. Dance@Kearsney The Dance@Kearsney Festival 2023 was a resounding success. With 17 schools from all over the province participating and over 250 dancers enjoying their moment on stage, the festival was, yet again, a significant highlight on the dance calendar. From Pietermaritzburg Girls' High School's moving statement against gender-based violence, to the beautifully crafted contemporary dance piece of the BoNana Dance crew, the festival was an explosion of creativity and energy. Our Kearsney boys performed the audience favourite 'Dangerous', incorporating the moves of Michael Jackson with the new and ever-popular 'Amapiano' style of dance, showing their dexterity in merging the old with the new. The feedback from choreographers and dancers alike was that the opportunity afforded to dancers to celebrate their love for dance on the Dance@Kearsney stage is the highlight of their year. It is indeed a privilege for us to allow the youth to express themselves in a way that showcases their creativity and craft in a spirit that celebrates and includes everyone. Words 2023 took place on 10 August, on a cool and blustery evening, yet again. The warm and friendly atmosphere of the Greyhound, however, proved something of a contrast to the rather Dickensian weather. It was lovely to be able to mingle with friends, old and new, as poets shared their interpretation of the theme ‘Great Expectations’. A total of 30 poets performed their work, with pupils from St Mary’s DSG, Maris Stella, Maritzburg College and Glenwood joining 14 Kearsney boys to celebrate the trials, challenges, insights and triumphs experienced by the youth. As an audience, the poets and other guests showed a keen appreciation for the true bravery that it takes to perform spoken word poetry. Performances were filled with incisive commentary, not only on the human condition but also on the angst of being a teenager in a world filled with societal pressures and expectations. There were also wonderful pieces that celebrated the joy of friendships and personal triumphs, of overcoming challenges with great fortitude and a dash of good humour. A hearty congratulations is extended to all who performed. Kearsney looks forward to hosting Words@Kearsney in 2024. Words@Kearsney
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