Published: 2014 October 16 12:40:52 (6503 Views)

TRAILBLAZING Bulawayo group Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts (Iyasa) is back in the country after a 10-day tour of Austria and are already preparing for a 2015 international tour.

Iyasa director Nkululeko Dube said the group has been touring Austria for 13 years and made a name for themselves in the process.

Dube said the group had developed contacts who were helping market Iyasa in that country. He said Austria had a good market for theatre, music, dance for children and young people or by young people.

"We simply have good promoters there that we trust and rely on and they have never let us down," Dube said.

"We also have a good audience for our products.

"Insingizi (another group made up of Bulawayo-born artistes) has worked there together with Iyasa and created a lot of interest in Zimbabwean artistes."

He said the reputation by the two groups had created opportunities for other groups from Zimbabwe to showcase their talents in Austria.

"We are simply supporting and helping each other open opportunities abroad," Dube said.

"There is a healthy market for what we do and all we are utilising it."

Iyasa used the tour to speak about its youth empowerment project through the arts.

The group had a fairy tale rise from a Mpopoma High School drama club to an internationally-acclaimed arts unit.

They have had collaborations with musicians Lisa Stern and Eric Spitzer-Maryln where they fused Austrian and Zimbabwean folk music to come up with hit songs and a new blend of music.

Iyasa graced the 10th anniversary celebrations for the Dschungel Wien Theatre house in Vienna.

The theatre has worked with Iyasa since its groundbreaking 10 years ago, producing various pieces showcased at the theatre and festivals around the world including in Sweden, Croatia and Japan.

"We met the director of the theatre, Stephan Rabl, in Harare at a performance and was the first to invite us to Austria in what was to be a partnership that has lived to see us to this day and is destined for many more years to come," Dube added.

- Online

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