Latest news with #DavidvanNiekerk
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
watch: Mjaivo Jaiva takes over the streets of Joburg
Celebrating International Dance Day with rhythm, unity, and joy. Hundreds of dancers took to the streets for International Dance Day celebration. Picture: Screenshot/Facebook Hundreds of dancers flooded the streets of Johannesburg this Friday, 16 May, for Mjaivo Jaiva, a celebration of International Dance Day. The Johannesburg Inner City Partnership (JICP), in collaboration with Moving Into Dance (MID) and the Maharishi Invincibility Institute (MII), hosted the event starting at the Magistrate's Court in Main Street, Johannesburg. Although International Dance Day is officially marked on 29 April, the celebration was moved to line up with South Africa's public holidays, allowing for greater participation and public engagement. ALSO READ: WATCH: ULTRA South Africa celebrates 10 years of dance music Mjaivo Jaiva for International Dance Day More than 1 000 dancers, choreographed by the renowned MID team, turned the pavements into lively stages filled with joy, music and shared creativity. JICP CEO David van Niekerk said collaborations like these are crucial for transforming the city from the inside out. 'This is more than a dance event – it's a living, breathing example of what happens when culture, creative expression and community power intersect. This is Jozi showing the world what it's made of.' MID, a Newtown-based pioneer of Afro fusion and edudance since 1978, has trained hundreds of participants over the past weeks in a choreographed routine that speaks to identity, movement and inclusion. 'This is dance for everyone. Whether you know the choreography or just want to move your body, we invite you to join in – follow the rhythm, feel the vibe, or simply soak up the spirit of Mjaivo Jaiva,' said Nadia Virasamy, CEO of MID. MII, a non-profit educational hub in the inner city since 2007, brought its own cohort of students to join the performance. NOW READ: Not just 'Lazy, rich housewives'! Louise Volschenk claps back at Afrikaans critics on The Mommy Club
The Citizen
03-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Artists transform Jukskei River waste into artwork
Jukskei river was once an eyesore in Alexandra, but now, as artists find ways to turn waste into artwork, it is becoming a tourist attraction site. The Scaling Urban Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SUNCASA) Community Litter Trap and Art Project, which was launched on April 16 in collaboration with Hannelie Coetzee, Alexandra Water Warriors, The Kula Marolen Foundation, and The ART Collective, breathes life into the once polluted river and neglected riverbanks. Read more: Where to dump your garden refuse and general waste in Johannesburg? The project has enabled the Alex community to turn waste dumped into the river into artistic river cleaning installations and public art. This is to address flooding, and to improve biodiversity, amongst other things. Additionally, as residents say, the project is also part of the efforts to transform Alex into a tourist destination with rich heritage. The recently launched litter trap and art project was implemented under SUNCASA, a three-year initiative aimed at revitalising the Upper Jukskei River catchment through nature-based solutions. David van Niekerk, CEO of the Johannesburg Inner City Partnership, said the goal was not only to install litter traps, but to change how they were perceived. 'The idea was to build five more, as part of this project, and I said to them: 'How can we change the way it is perceived, because it is not a beautiful thing, there's litter'. So, the idea came… Let us bring in art,' he noted, adding that the idea was to: 'Turn the rather unsightly litter traps into vibrant community spaces, by activating them through public art installations.' He said the spaces could serve as a place where locals and tourists could learn about the river and nature-based approaches. The project was led by Coetzee, and, in collaboration with local artists, they brought ways and stories to clean the polluted river. They transformed some of the waste materials salvaged from the river into masterpieces and used them as installations which prevents the build-up of waste in the Jukskei River. Also read: A guide to responsible e-waste disposal in Gauteng The project gave birth to the stunning: Alexandra River Creatures series (2025), which is comprised of sculptures that were creatively made from debris taken out of the river. Reflecting on the project, Paul Maluleke, founder of Alexandra Water Warriors, said: 'What we have done is to clean our image as Alexandra. Alexandra has been perceived as a dirty place, plagued by rats, but then, from the tourism point of view, we realised that there is so much that we can do.' He noted that they want to rehabilitate the Jukskei River, and transform it into a tourism attraction. 'It must have art installations. It must be safe and clean, and there must be employment.' Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! Related article: Alex waste pickers have a new home to ply their trade At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
