The SHiNE dance challenge happening at the Castle of Good Hope this weekend will step up the festive vibe – it’s free and family friendly and the place to go for festive fun and creative inspiration

Cape Town, 7 December 2023 – The multi-arts Cape Town Arts Festival (CTAF), is this year,inspired by the Social Harmony through National Effort (SHiNE) of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). Taking it a step further, CTAF has commissioned a Gqom dance track for the upcoming SHiNE dance challenge happening on the 9^th and 10^th of December at the Castle of Good Hope.  

The SHiNE song, draws inspiration from the creative brilliance of both established and emerging stars, and is the backing track for the dance-off finalists competing in the dance challenge on Sunday, who will have been selected from more than 100 local dance soloists and groups who entered the competition. 

The SHiNE Song is composed by creative director/composer, Lynne Holmes AKA Desert Rose of the Ariva Arts Foundation, and dynamic Gqom beat sensation, Chustar.  This unusual creative marriage has resulted in a dance hit that fluidly and melodiously shares the SHiNE message: finding harmony within and without, through positive dialogue and action, while honouring our diversity by learning from each other.

Holmes, well known for her transformative song writing, draws inspiration from across South Africa’s gene talent pool, resulting in a volcanic fusion of voices and beats.  Featured on the track is the powerful voice of Hip Hop artist, Landrose from Tembisa, Gauteng. Landrose, captured South Africa’s imagination in 2020 when he released his very own national anthem, rapping in seven (7) different languages. He does it again, in the multi-lingual SHiNE Song, where he raps in Zulu, Tswana, Sotho and English. 

Adding to South Africa’s rainbow nation musical genius, the Cape Town Arts Festival (CTAF) spotlights two of the buskers currently on the Beyond Busking programme – Ivee Soul and Vernon Frost – whose voices soar alongside the rich sound of Seren Ariana, another young South African gem. 

As aforementioned, the song is the hero piece for the SHiNE dance challenge final.  Finalists will have Saturday afternoon to learn the routine, which has been especially choreographed by Gqom choreographer, Stoan Galela – known as “Ghetto kid” – a dance teacher and manager in the communities of the Western Cape, who is uplifting children on the streets through his efforts and various dance styles. 

Deputy chair of the Human Rights Commission, Fatima Chohan, said: “We are inspired by the creativity of the Cape Town Arts Festival and their ability to translate the message of SHiNE into all genres of the arts. The SHINE song, in particular, will get our citizens dancing and celebrating our country’s rich diversity as we move into the festive season this year. 

“‘Let’s talk to each other,’ the lyrics in the song, epitomizes the SHiNE message of sharing one’s story in the workplace and being in constant dialogue with one’s family, thus proactively creating harmony in the home, and peace in our homes translates into peace in society.” 

Festival CEO, Yusuf Ganief echoes these sentiments, remarking that: “The SHINE project epitomises our role as “artivists”, reinventing the original essence of One City Many Cultures to promote cultural diversity and common humanity. The SHiNE song allows us to engage with diverse cultures in a fun and healthy way, dancing our way towards a more tolerant, understanding, and harmonious society. I can’t wait to see the latest moves of our young up and coming local dancers”.