Bawren Tavaziva
My blogs
| Gender | Male |
|---|---|
| Industry | Arts |
| Occupation | Artistic Director of Tavaziva Dance |
| Introduction | Bawren Tavaziva was born in a rural village near Masvingo in Zimbabwe. Football, Michael Jackson, and Kung Fu movies viewed at the local community hall in the Harare suburb of Tafara provided inspiration to Bawren and his friends. As Bawren reached his teens he was taught contemporary and traditional dance and ballet as part of a dance program created by The National Ballet. At 18 years old Bawren was selected as an apprentice for Tumbuka Dance Company in Harare,touring Africa and Europe. In 1998 he moved to the UK, performing with Phoenix Dance, Union Dance Company, Jazzxchange, Carol Brown and Sakoba Dance Theatre. Bawren Tavaziva's first choreographed work was Wachona for Tumbuka in 1994. Bawren’s choreography has since been commissioned by Union Dance Company, ACE Dance Company, Tumbuka Dance Company, Ballet Black, Srishti and State of Emergency. In 2004, Bawren’s choreography was selected as one of five finalists in the prestigious Place Prize. As a result of his choreographic success, Bawren formed Tavaziva Dance in 2004, touring nationally and internationally, and becoming in 2005 a Regularly Funded Organisation of Arts Council England. |
| Favorite Music | Bawren is also a talented musician; he has made music for his commissioned works Gule Dance, Tsika and Umdlalo kaSisi, and for Phoenix and Union Dance Company. He also makes the music for all his own works. |