Applauz Arts Intiative

The Company

Applauz Arts Initiative is a non-profit Section-21 Company. It has been teaching, nurturing and promoting Arts and Culture

in the previously disadvantaged areas in and around the Western Cape for the past 10 years. It is small, yet richly diverse.

 

Renowned pioneer in the entertainment industry, Natalia Da Rocha heads up an experienced and talented staff team.

 

WHAT WE DO

 

• Provides positive, essential extra- mural activities for children and youth in the previously disadvantaged areas of Elsiesriver, Mitchell’s Plain, Steenberg, Fish Hoek, Simonstown, Lavender Hill, Strandfontein, Bonteheuwel, Belhar, Jamestown, Strand, and the rural areas of Clanwilliam, Worcester, Okiep and its surroundings.

• Reveals, nurtures and creates opportunities for the wealth of natural talent and ability that exists, often undeveloped, in these impoverished communities.

• Trains students who possess the desire and requisite talent to become professional South African Performers of the future. One of our students, Dominic Paulsen, obtained a 3 year bursary from AFDA film school via the project in the beginning of 2003 andcompleted his Degree at the end of 2005. Marcelino Jonas, Kaashief Noroodien, & Garrith Hendricks completed a one year learnership in music technology at Cape Varsity acquired through Applauz Arts Initiative. Marcelino is now the Company’s stage manager and sound technician, and Garrith plays keyboard in the band. KennyFinger was given the opportunity to obtain professional training in the MUSEDI Project and now plays in the Youth Orchestra.

• Creates jobs and promotes skills development by providing teaching opportunities for senior students. Four of Applauz Arts Initiative’s teaching staff are Founding students.

• Skills transferral. Each project that we initiate has “hands-on” training for performers and production team such as: stage management, wardrobe/costume, sound technician, and lighting technician.

• Creates paid jobs by providing performing opportunities on a continual basis for students in the professional sector. Grant Peres and Talia Egelhof are well-established performers as part of the Costa cruise line entertainment team.

• Creates and grows new audiences for theatre. Audience development and Education plays a major role in all our projects.

• Helps each child develop beyond a physical level, by building self-esteem, confidence, creativity andself-discipline.

• Uses the Performing Arts, as a tool for Social Advancement.