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Sophia Chese : Arts Correspondent

This year’s Jibilika Dance Festival Harare preliminaries was heavily contested resulting in the adjudicators crowning two dance groups as overall winners, Lethal Fam and House of Animates. The provincial competitions were held over the weekend at the Harare Gardens and the two groups are set to represent Harare at the finals to be held in Mutare in August.Bboy Omatic and Bboy Kudzi won the solo dancers competition.

In an interview, Jibilika Dance Festival director Plot Mhako said he was overwhelmed by the attendance at this year’s Harare preliminaries saying the competition was also stiff.

Ten dance groups took part in the Harare preliminary and at least 30 solo dancers in four categories.

“This was our third preliminary after Masvingo and Gweru. The attendance at the Harare preliminary was great and this year Harare had better competition and as a result we failed to pick only one crew but had to take two,” Mhako said.

Mhako highlighted that the next provincial competitions will be in Mutare this weekend.

The provincial preliminaries will run through to June in all the country’s 10 provinces.

Mhako highlighted that the festival was open to dancers from all walks of life.

“Young urban/contemporary dance companies, choreographers and dancers from around Zimbabwe are requested to submit concepts or material for completed works for a 15-20 minute dance theatre piece which is new, original, imaginative, unique and which displays unusual achievement.

“The festival will select the best three shows or concepts for the inaugural dance theatre programme within this year’s festival,” he said.

Jibilika is Zimbabwe’s premier annual youth dance festival which celebrates both urban and cultural dances and runs in competition format.

It is run by the Jibilika Dance Trust.

The festival will encompass mentorship on a wide range of youth-related issues in various communities, exhibitions and performances.

Each year the festival assumes a new theme which guides the content and outcome.

Before the national finals, a series of provincial preliminaries which act as the selection or audition process, are conducted.