About Us

The Sustaining Theatre and Dance (STAND) Foundation is an independent, non-profit and public benefit entity created by individuals within the sector to nurture, promote and celebrate contemporary South African dance and theatre.

STAND Foundation history
The Sustaining Theatre and Dance (STAND) Foundation was established on September 1, 2020, amidst the challenging backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our primary intention has been to foster, support, and celebrate South African theatre and dance, as well as those who rely on these art forms for their livelihoods. STAND's mission has extended beyond the pandemic era, continuously aiming to contribute to the long-term sustenance and growth of the industry. In the three years of existence, STAND Foundation has successfully developed and implemented projects that directly confront some of the challenges in theatre and dance industries for the purposes of providing support, development and growth through education and training, innovative and celebratory arts projects, research, policy and advocacy projects.
01.

STAND Foundation Principles

Social justice, Anti-discrimination, Diversity, Partnerships, Reciprocity, Non-partisanship, Freedom of expression, Ethical funding, Fair remuneration, Solidarity, and Sustainability.

02.

STAND Foundation Values

Good governance, Servant leadership, Renewal, Professionalism, Integrity, Transparency, Innovation, Frugality, Respect, and Fun.

03.

STAND Foundation Aims

Collaborate with key players, including festivals, theaters, companies, funding agencies, and practitioners, to shape a visionary dance and theatre ecosystem in South Africa. Secure funding independently and provide support across all aspects of contemporary South African dance and theatre, encompassing research, education, training, creation, production, distribution, touring, archiving, and documentation. Maintain a comprehensive database of industry professionals, ensuring a connected community. Undertake and share research to inform and fortify the development and sustainability of dance and theatre. Contribute to capacity building in critical areas such as leadership, arts management, journalism, creative and technical skills, education, and entrepreneurship.

04.

STAND Foundation Projects

Some of the key projects that have been actualised have focused on education and training which include; our winter/summer schools, leadership courses, financial wellness for artists webinars, cultural policy and advocacy webinars. Other innovative and celebratory projects the STAND Foundation has implemented include; Jomba! Choreographic Mentorships, Bafana Republic Satirical Writing Competition, Women’s Stand-Up Comedy, Poetry for Human Rights, and so forth. We also prioritise research and advocacy, here are some of the projects we have implemented or contributed on to drive this focus; the Western Cape Community Arts Research Report, and the Breathing New Vision into the Theatre and Dance in South Africa.

05.

STAND Foundation's Need For Support

It is important to acknowledge that availability of resources is a factor that continues to challenge us in our efforts to support and uplift the theatre and dance sector in South Africa. Therefore, your patronage will empower the STAND Foundation to continue to contribute towards supporting the theatre and dance sector in a meaningful and impactful way.

06.

How to get in touch with the STAND Foundation?

To contact STAND, send an email to ntombi@standfoundation.org.za

MEET OUR BOARD

Mojalefa Silinda

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Mojalefa Silinda

Lakin Morgan-Baatjies

Yvette Hardie

YVETTE HARDIE is a theatre director, producer, educator and advocate, focusing on theatre and performance for young audiences. She initiated the launch of ASSITEJ SA in 2007, and leads the organisation as National Director. She is currently serving her third term as President of the international ASSITEJ (2011-2021), which networks across over 100 countries.  She was responsible for hosting the 19th ASSITEJ World Congress & Performing Arts Festival, Cradle of Creativity for the first time in Africa, in 2017. She produced the award-winning Colonnades Theatre Lab production, Truth in Translation, which toured widely for several years. For her own company, FreeVoice Productions, she directs and produces productions, which have toured extensively nationally and internationally. She is valued for her work in Arts Education, having written national curricula and textbooks for Dramatic and Creative Arts. She was the Head of the Drama Department at the National School of the Arts, where she taught between 1991 – 2004. She has also taught at the Market theatre Laboratory, AFDA, University of Cape Town and other tertiary institutions. She has an MA in Theatre Practice from Tshwane University of Technology. She has written and spoken extensively on issues relating to arts for young audiences, arts education and arts for reconciliation and conflict resolution around the globe. She was awarded the Mickey Miner Award for Lifetime Achievement from IPAY (International Performing Arts for Youth), based in Philadelphia, USA, for her contribution to theatre for young audiences locally and globally.

Yvette Hardie

Ismail Mahomed

ISMAIL MAHOMED is Director of the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of Kwazulu-Natal. He is the former Chief Executive Officer of the Market Theatre Foundation (www.markettheatre.co.za ) and the former Artistic Director of the National Arts Festival (www.nationalartsfestival.co.za ). He is a multi-award winning arts administrator and he serves on the board of several arts organisations in South Africa. He is also a playwright and a regular contributor of editorial opinions in South Africa. He has a particular interest in theatre for social change.

Ismail Mahomed

Yvette Hardie

YVETTE HARDIE is a theatre director, producer, educator and advocate, focusing on theatre and performance for young audiences. She initiated the launch of ASSITEJ SA in 2007, and leads the organisation as National Director. She is currently serving her third term as President of the international ASSITEJ (2011-2021), which networks across over 100 countries.  She was responsible for hosting the 19th ASSITEJ World Congress & Performing Arts Festival, Cradle of Creativity for the first time in Africa, in 2017. She produced the award-winning Colonnades Theatre Lab production, Truth in Translation, which toured widely for several years. For her own company, FreeVoice Productions, she directs and produces productions, which have toured extensively nationally and internationally. She is valued for her work in Arts Education, having written national curricula and textbooks for Dramatic and Creative Arts. She was the Head of the Drama Department at the National School of the Arts, where she taught between 1991 – 2004. She has also taught at the Market theatre Laboratory, AFDA, University of Cape Town and other tertiary institutions. She has an MA in Theatre Practice from Tshwane University of Technology. She has written and spoken extensively on issues relating to arts for young audiences, arts education and arts for reconciliation and conflict resolution around the globe. She was awarded the Mickey Miner Award for Lifetime Achievement from IPAY (International Performing Arts for Youth), based in Philadelphia, USA, for her contribution to theatre for young audiences locally and globally.

Greg Maqoma

Gregory Maqoma

GREGORY MAQOMA started his formal dance training in 1990 at Moving Into Dance where in 2002 he became the Associate Artistic Director. Maqoma has established himself as an internationally renowned dancer, choreographer, teacher and director. He founded Vuyani Dance Theatre (VDT) in 1999. He received the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance in 2002. In 2017 Maqoma was honoured by the French Government with the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Arts & Literature) Award. GREGORY MAQOMA. In 2020 Maqoma was honoured by the International Theatre Institute in partnership with UNESCO to be the author of the prestigious International Dance Day Message.

Gregory Maqoma

Saartjie Botha

SAARTJIE BOTHA is the award-winning playwright of, among other, Altyd Jonker and Balbesit. Her most recent play, Toutjies & Ferreira, won four kykNET Fiësta Awards. As a producer, she has been involved with more than 50 productions. She has also written for television and film, including the screenplay for Poppie Nongena with Christiaan Olwagen. Botha was appointed as Director of the Stellenbosch University Woordfees and the WOW (Words Open Worlds) Project in 2014. 

Originally started as an all-night poetry festival in 1999, the Toyota SU Woordfees has grown into one of South Africa’s biggest arts and culture festivals. The Woordfees festival programme consists of some 500 distinct productions in drama, poetry, classical and contemporary music, dance, musical theatre, children’s theatre, discourse, books and authors, and visual arts. The festival programme also includes a collaboration with the WOW Project which brings learners and teachers from previously disadvantaged schools in the region to the festival for workshops, extended learning opportunities and the attendance of theatre and music performances.

Saartjie Botha

Nkosinathi Sangweni

NKOSINATHI SANGWENI 

Nkosinathi Sangweni

David Cornelson

DAVID CORNELSON

David Cornelson

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STAND • An independent, not-for-profit entity committed to nurturing, promoting and celebrating contemporary South African dance and theatre. 

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ntombi@standfoundation.org.za
www.standfoundation.org.za

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