The Untouchables: Nurturing Talented Young Performers in Etwatwa East

The Untouchables is a dynamic and innovative organization that was founded in 2012 with the goal of providing young people in Etwatwa East with access to quality performing arts education. With its roots in an after-school program based at Bab’ Maseko’s church, The Untouchables has grown and evolved to become a leader in the field of youth performance and development. The journey of The Untouchables began with the after-school program, which offered young people in the community the opportunity to learn a variety of performing arts techniques, including Neo Classical Ballet Dance, Contemporary Dance, Theatre, and Visual Arts. This program was a huge success, and the positive impact it had on the young people who participated was clear to see.

The following year, The Untouchables expanded the program to include young adults, and the focus shifted to Dramatic Theatre and Dance Theatre techniques. This was a significant turning point for the organization, and it marked the beginning of a new chapter in its development. With a growing number of talented young performers, The Untouchables was ready to take the next step and mount its very first production. The production, titled “The Same Window”, was a huge success. It was selected for the Vuka Tukka Festival, and went on to be performed at the Night of Dance at the Market Theatre Lab and Uncle Toms in Soweto. This was a major accomplishment for The Untouchables, and it demonstrated the organization’s commitment to producing high-quality performances that showcase the talents of its young performers. Since its humble beginnings, The Untouchables has continued to grow and evolve, becoming a vital part of the cultural landscape in Etwatwa East. With its focus on developing young talent and providing access to quality performing arts education, The Untouchables is helping to nurture the next generation of talented performers and artists.

The organization’s impact extends beyond the young people who participate in its programs. The Untouchables is also making a positive impact on the wider community in Etwatwa East by creating opportunities for local residents to participate in cultural events and to experience the thrill of live performance. This is a testament to the organization’s commitment to building bridges between the arts and the community, and to creating a vibrant and inclusive cultural landscape.

In 2014 we started the Superstars Saturday Arts School which was based at Dan Pharasi Primary School, at Emaphupheni in Etwatwa. We partnered with an amazing organization called Bonakala and working together we included TV/Film in the Saturday classed, which also had English for Communication, Theatre, Storytelling, Poetry, and Contemporary Dance. Since we were being experimental in the organization, the following year, in 2015 we moved to Daveyton Busshed where we started the Daveyton Etwatwa Combined Artists Collaboration, a concept whose objective was teach arts group leaders the manner of running community based arts organization. In that year we became part of an amazing event called My Body My Space, organized by the Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative under the leadership of PJ Sabbagha. From there we moved to a much more motivating space, Rhoo Hlatshwayo Art Centre, and that’s where we started the Open Classes that comprised of Neo Classical Ballet classes, Jazz Dance, Theatre, and Creative Writing, and Theatre. We began to work collaboratively with the City of Ekurhuleni’s Arts and Culture Department, and mounted our very first festival called “Leeto-The Journey”, which focused on the integration of Theatre with Dance, and provided an economically viable platform for various performance organizations.

When the leader of The Untouchables started working at East Rand School of the Arts, the organization relocated to the premises of the school, and started a collaborative project called ERSA Dance Project, which won No. 1 in Gauteng Dance Manyano with their work “Destiny”, choreographed by Mr. Lee and Thembi Ngwenya. The Untouchables went on to take No. 1 at the Sibikwa Art Centre’s “Dance Xplosion Festival”. In 2019 come Covid 19, and there was a halt in activities, so The Untouchables moved to Shamase Gardens, which became their new premises, where Open Classes were resumed, and “Leeto II” was mounted and dubbed “The Art Performance”, and included Reading, Visual Art Exhibition, Choral Music, and Poetry.

In 2021 The Untouchables was registered as a private company with the full name, The Untouchables Artist Hub, with an idea of fashioning it as a business. Three main programs became a feature of the company, Artists Agency, Media, and Training. The following year the organization officially relocated to Mpumalanga in Tweefontein, with the aim playing a part in developing the Creative Industry; and where it mounted its very first event, the Tweefontein Art Festival on the 30th December, in collaboration with Vivace Youth Centre, with funding from National Arts Council. Since then the organization is involved with various organization that include CCIFSA Thembisile Local Municipality, Mandlethu Artists Development, Ikhambo (a theatre organization that was born out of the Festival), the local Arts and Culture office, and more.

We take a practical approach to teaching the arts, so that the artist can have a hands-on understanding of the art form that they are involved in. We also insist on the acquiring of accurate and up to date information, so that the artist should insight in what they are doing, thereby making them competent at high level. That is done through Open Classes and Workshops, as well as Short Courses. It has to be “The Opposite Sex” because it was one of the very first fully-fletched production of The Untouchables and in its first installation it included veterans of the industry, first performed at the My Body My Space Festival (OR Tambo Precinct), after that it took No.1 in the “Dance Xplosion Festival”, before being performed at Wits Theatre in the “Detours” festival. It was also the main feature in the first festival organized by The Untouchables. “The Opposite Sex” is a commentary work about the perception of gender stereotype.

The Untouchables is still new in the corporate sector, for many years it was more involved in theatre, and the process of creating work is intense with its requirement of extensive research and tryouts. In terms of media, we have been more on the side teaching that producing media projects, and have been working successfully with two actors agencies. One of our most successful programme is the TV/Film Actors Workshops that happens quarterly, and we are able to get actors to the market almost immediately, working in partnership with well-established actor’s agencies, namely Becky Casting Agency and Zane’s Artist Management. In the past several years we have seen the shift from theatres to site-specific works, flashmob, and other hybrid forms of performing that is technologically inclined. Covid 19 restrictions also contributed immensely to the shift because auditions that would normally be done live, were now done online, and so was the presentation of performances, which elevated the idea of live streaming. The attitudes around the traditional way presenting the arts is changing, and so we are more likely to see adaptive performance works in the future, where any available space that is readily accessible to audiences of different kind is exploited. The purpose of art is to reflect the socio-political and economic situation of the people, and therefore I believe that the kind productions that I do should be accessible to a wide audience, one that can appreciate what they, one that can appreciate what they hear, and one that can appreciate interaction, so that they are not just spectators but part of the subjects that are being tackled.

When it comes to the corporate world, the needs of the client have to be fully understood, because you want shape whatever that you are developing to represent the sentiments of the client in totality. So paying close attention to the specifications is of utmost importance, even assist your client to explore a variety of approaches to what they need, so that they best comes out. The main project for this year in 2023 is the Thembisile Rural Development Project that we doing collaboratively with Mandlethu Artist Development, and we have the partnership of Mpumalanga Department Arts and Culture in advice, as well CCIFSA Thembisile Hani Local Municipality. The projects is intended to reach artists in all art forms, take them through a series of workshops that are meant to help understand the business side of things, and it will culminate with presentations to a plethora of individuals and companies that will take the participants to the mainstream.

It is important to be part of the ongoing workshops and other activities where we meet with other leaders of the industry and share knowledge as well as get to network. That helps to stay up to date with what is happening around the province and nationwide. There are also relevant social media groups that we belong to, and we are able to catch up with the trends. Inasmuch as young people feel a strong desire to go straight to performance, as some are chasing fame, it is advisable for them to acquire education in their respective field of art. Education helps to widen the scope of understanding what one is taking as a career, it is not just about acquiring a qualification. But also, with a qualification a young person will surely broaden the chances of getting a sustainable job in the Creative Industry. Talent alone is definitely not enough, the Creative Industry requires a lot of discipline and patience in order to make it to the mainstream. It can be very tough often in the industry, so it’s important as an upcoming artist you never ever give up on your dreams, because the reason why you came with that talent in this world. Go on and shine, you are that star!

The Untouchables is a remarkable organization that has made a lasting impact on the lives of young people in Etwatwa East in Daveyton. With its focus on nurturing talent, providing access to quality education, and building bridges between the arts and the community, The Untouchables is making a significant contribution to the cultural landscape of the area, and is helping to shape the future of performing arts in South Africa. Whether you are a young performer, a fan of the arts, or simply a supporter of cultural development, The Untouchables is an organization that is worth watching, and one that is making a positive difference in the lives of the people it serves.