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Magesh crew from Bulawayo

Tafadzwa Zimoyo Entertainment Reporter
Dance outfit Magesh stormed to victory for the third time at the recently held Jibilika Dance Festival in Bulawayo, walking away with $1 000 cash.

It is their third success at the final following their win at the inaugural edition in 2007 and in 2008.

The 2014 winners, Explosion, were voted the second and won $750 cash while in third place was the Matabeleland South representatives Ebony Arts from Gwanda, winning $500 cash.

Magesh presented two superb choreographed pieces that resembled their trademark, clean, precise and stunning styles.

In an interview with The Herald Entertainment, Magesh said they were happy with the victory as it means a lot to them.

“This is our dream come true, being winners for the third time. Dancing is a career that needs to be taken seriously as it will also sustain livelihoods. I thank Jibilika for the exposure they are giving to the youths as it is promoting our culture. Dance is a tool that can be used to communicate,” said Magesh crew.

In the solo category, Harare’s Sylvester Shonhiwa aka Silva was voted number one in the B-boy category while Biliard Kambona from Bindura came second.

McDonald Jonasi popularly known as Hurricane won the Krump category with Bulawayo based star Bright Mtungameli in second place.

The New School Hip Hop Dance category saw TK Madaka (Bulawayo) and Clarence Tendai Koga from Chitungwiza as winners.

The festival kicked off with two dance workshops at Founders High School which were conducted by Alma Manyika and US dancer and choreographer Haleem Rasul.

The workshops were based on gender and the arts, break dancing and choreography on Jit dance.

Plot Mhako, Jibilika founder, said he was happy with the huge turnout at the festival especially at the workshops.

“Dance is a culture and I am happy with how Zimbabweans are coping and accepting that it is a career. The workshops were well attended by some local dance enthusiasts together with some festival participants. We hosted a Street Cypher in the streets with some free-style showcasing,” he said.

Mhako said the festival saw for the first time, the screening of a documentary on dancing.

“Dancers had a chance to watch a documentary titled ‘Bouncing Cats’ from Uganda, which showed how a group of young break-dancers in that country are using dance for positive social impact.

“This was in line with our goal this year to make meaningful and lasting community impact through culture.

“After the screening we had a discussion on various issues provoked by the film.

This saw dancers actively participating in the conversation and reflecting on their career and their relevance and contribution to the society,” he said.

He said Bulawayo-based hip hop artiste Leeroy Brittan and his Still Under Pressure graffiti group created a mural outside the theatre which captured the essence of the festival theme.