Francesca Abela Tranter choreographer and artistic director for Contact Dance Company will be hosting performing artist Bawren Tavaziva to give workshops and create new work for the company for touring 2006/ 2007. The workshops’ professional level will be based on his fusion of his background in both contemporary dance and African dance styles.

These workshops will be held at The Dance Workshop in July. ([email protected])

Born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe, Bawren Tavaziva joined the City Youth Dance Group at the age of 15 through a program created to seek out talented under-privileged youngsters. Within two years he was selected as an apprentice to work with Tumbuka Dance Company. He toured extensively, visiting the African sub-continent, including South Africa, Botswana, Angola and the Ivory Coast, and Europe, including France, Germany, Switzerland and the UK. In 1995 he was awarded a scholarship to attend the Montpellier Choreographic Institute’s Summer Festival in France.

Tavaziva moved to the UK in 1998 where he has worked with Sakoba Dance Theatre, JazzXchange, Carol Brown, Phoenix Dance, Union Dance and State of Emergency Limited. In 2001 he was invited performer to the PAL Choreographic Dance Lab under the direction of Emilyn Claid. He has choreographed several major works that have been professionally toured in the UK and abroad. His most recent commissions in 2004 have been to create work for the Royal Opera House ROH2 Summer Collection 04 and the Place Prize.

Tavaziva composes and records his own music for his choreography and has been commissioned to write music for Phoenix Dance and Union Dance Companies.