In another effort driven by live event technical and production training organisation, the South African Roadies Association (SARA), has flown 11 SARA members to join a further 6 existing SARA members in the United States for a 10 month tour alongside the UniverSoul Circus.
The 11 SARA members include: John Ledwaba (21) from Kwa Mhlanga, Mpumalanga; Tumelo Mavayela (21) from Meadowlands, Soweto; Mpumelelo Shivambu (25) from Kwa Bungeni, Limpopo; Anthony Khambule (25) from Tembisa, Ekurhuleni; Sibusiso Mathebula (29) from Orlando West, Soweto; Mokete Mogagabe (26) from Mapetla, Soweto; Tebogo Maphiri (27) from Diepkloof, Soweto; Rodney Mothibi (30) from Central Western Jabavu, Soweto; Blondie Sello (33) Mangaung, Free State; Romeo Mtshemla (33) from Meadowlands, Soweto; and Mpho Mopailo (33) from Central Western Jabavu, Soweto.
Established in 1994 by Cedric Walker, an African-American man who had a vision of creating a circus with a large percentage of people of colour performing, The UniverSoul Circus is a single ring circus, which currently features performers from at least 24 different countries. The UniverSoul Circus base in Atlanta, Georgia, recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary, and has come full circle in its influence in the international entertainment marketplace – garnering the distinction of being known as a one-of-a-kind attraction.
SARA and the UniverSoul Circus began working together in 2002. The fruitful relationship endured for the next 7 years that saw 121 people receive ten months of on the job paid training experience in the USA per year, as part of UniverSoul Circus’ technical and production crew. Lighting, sound, staging, audio visual, video technicians and production are some of the skills which employees gained during the period.
South African technical and production skills, as shown by the exportability of the SARA members’ skills, are “skills of the future” and one of the skill sectors offering sustainable employment across the world, notwithstanding the region and the continent, to young people.
