PRESS: Premiere of BLUE FUNK at the Labia, a Darkroom Contemporary Annual Fundraiser

Marina Griebenow

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Bookings are open for Darkroom Contemporary’s Annual Fundraising Event, a screening of the highly anticipated South African premiere of BLUE FUNK, taking place at the Labia Theatre, Cape Town.

This one-night-only cinematic event celebrates 15 years of future-forward South African creativity, while raising vital funds for our youth development, job creation, artistic programming, and accessibility initiatives.

BLUE FUNK charts the physicality of being afraid. As chain reaction, fear settles over its targets, exposing their innate sentient responses of freeze, fight, fawn, and flight. The resulting cacophony evokes the volatility of this moment in time, a mounting pressure edging towards its breaking point. Created in response to the aftermath of the pandemic, its relevance is increasingly potent in today’s uncertain climate - a visceral expression of internal revolution, in response to the unknown.

Created in 2023, BLUE FUNK, directed and choreographed by Louise Coetzer, has made history as the first South African dance film selected for the prestigious Cinedans Festival (Netherlands) and has earned multiple international awards, including Best Choreography Awards at Utah, Boston, and Exeter Dance Film Festivals (UK & USA), Best of Festival Award at Third Coast Festival, USA, Best Female Director Award at Mirada Corta Film Festival in Mexico and Best Screendance Award at Berlin Shorts, Germany. 

It features an original score by Haezer and cinematography by Oscar O’Ryan, the film showcases the talents of Darkroom Contemporary dancers Bronwyn Craddock, Lwazi Mzimase, Gabrielle Fairhead, Mukovhe Monyai, and Christopher Sherwood-Adcock.

Each screening will be followed by a unique opportunity to engage with the filmmakers, in conversation with Dr Gerard Samuel (Associate Professor, UCT Centre for Theatre, Dance & Performance Studies) and Marco Morgan (Urban Planner, Programme Manager and DC Board member).

You can support Darkroom Contemporary by—

• booking tickets for the 18h00 or 19h00 screening; and

• adding a donation towards Darkroom Contemporary’s upcoming programmes.

All funds raised are utilised towards our Public Benefit Activities including Youth Development, Artistic Programming, Accessibility Initiatives and Job Creation Programmes.

Darkroom Contemporary appreciates your support: Together, we are building the future of contemporary dance in South Africa.

Venue: Labia Theatre, Cape Town

Date: Thursday, 2 October 2025

Times: Screenings at 18:00 & 19:00 (each followed by an artist talk)

Bookings: Quicket