INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED POETS

The renowned South African writer and artist Breyten Breytenbach brings together poets from around the world for the second season of the dancing in other words Spier Poetry Festival.  The festival combines literary debate with poetry readings at Spier near Stellenbosch on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th May.

As curator of the poetry festival, Breytenbach has selected a mix of eminent global voices whose lives and work embody fiery critique and fearless witness of societies as varied as Morocco, Chad and China. The line-up includes Homero Aridjis – the Mexican poet, novelist, environmental activist and diplomat, Chinese writer Duo Duo, one of the celebrated Misty poets, the young Russian-American star Ilya Kaminsky and Nimrod from Chad. Local luminaries participating include Ingrid de Kok, Henning Pieterse and Mxolisi Nyezwa.

All events will be ticketed. The afternoon conversations will be free of charge, and the evening performances will cost R190 per night (includes canapés and a complimentary glass of Spier wine). For more information phone (021) 809 1100(021) 809 1100 or visit www.spierpoetryfestival.co.za For bookings visit www.quicket.co.za

FULL PROGRAMME

The dancing in other words Spier Poetry Festival programme, on Fri 9 May and Sat 10 May, includes two Poetry Readings and a series of moderated Conversations, with translation as the underlying theme. The evening Poetry Readings are charged and tickets include canapés and a glass of wine.The day-time Conversation series is titled how to seduce an angel. Attendance here is free of charge, but with strictly limited audience capacity, booking is essential.

FRIDAY 9 MAY 2014

2pm to 3.30pm | Spier Old Wine Cellar

Conversation I

Frakaans, Françiques, Arabique: French as voyeur into Arabic, Afrikaans and Wolof

Participating poets are Abdellatif Laâbi from Morocco, Nimrod from Chad and Jabir and Diamil from the Senegalase rap collective Vendredi Slam. The conversation will be moderated by Georges Lory, former director of the Alliance Française in South Africa and acclaimed translator of Gordimer, Krog and Breytenbach.

4pm to 5.30pm | Spier Old Wine Cellar

Conversation II

“Seven years after his death, I saw Celan in his house slippers dancing alone in his bedroom, humming step over step.” In which language did Ilya see Paul Celan dancing?

An in depth discussion on poetry, butterflies and dancing between Homero Aridjis from Mexico, Ilya Kaminsky, originally from Odessa in the Ukraine, now from the USA, and Henning Pieterse from Pretoria.

The conversation will be mediated by Dominique Botha.

6pm | Meet at the River Deck for a procession to the Old Wine Cellar .

7pm Poetry Reading I | Spier Old Wine Cellar

Readings by all festival poets: Abdellatif Laâbi, Breyten Breytenbach, Duo Duo, Hans van de Waarsenburg,Henning Pieterse, Homero Aridjis, Ilya Kaminsky, Ingrid de Kok, Mxolisi Nyezwa, Nimrod and Jabir & Diamil of Vendredi Slam. Musical Director: Neo Muyanga.

Cost: R190 per person, includes canapés and a glass of wine

SATURDAY 10 MAY 2014

11am to 12.30pm | Protea Bookshop, Crozier/Andringa Street, Stellenbosch

Conversation III

Imagine Africa

Shaped around the book launch of Imagine Africa 2, Breyten Breytenbach will discuss the curation of the work and how all poetry and prose is a translation from the non-verbal into the imagination via words. Breytenbach will be in conversation with contributors Hans van de Waarsenburg from Holland, Georges

Lory, Abdellatif Laâbi and South African poet Louis Esterhuizen.

2pm to 3.30pm | Spier Old Wine Cellar

Conversation IV

Breath as vehicle of Consciousness, Breath as encapsulation of Memory, Breath as aspiration of change:

Protest and Poetry.

Chinese poet Duo Duo will be in conversation with composer Neo Muyanga, and South African poets Ingrid de Kok and Mxolisi Nyezwa.

4pm to 5.30pm | Spier Old Wine Cellar

Conversation V

Let’s get serious

An interactive wine blending and tasting workshop with winemakers and poets. Age requirement: 18.

7pm | Spier Old Wine Cellar

Poetry Reading II

Readings by all festival poets: Abdellatif Laâbi, Breyten Breytenbach, Duo Duo, Hans van de Waarsenburg, Henning Pieterse, Homero Aridjis, Ilya Kaminsky, Ingrid de Kok, Mxolisi Nyezwa, Nimrod and Jabir & Diamil of Vendredi Slam. Musical Director: Neo Muyanga.

Cost: R190 per person, includes canapés and a glass of wine.

For bookings www.quicket.co.za /www.spierpoetryfestival.co.za/programme or call 021 809 1100021 809 1100 during office hours, Monday to Friday