Georgina Thomson, Creative Director of the FNB Dance Umbrella has been awarded the Tunkie Award 2010 for her contribution to dance leadership in South Africa. The award is given annually to a South African who has elevated the standard and visibility of Dance in South Africa to greater heights through their dance leadership.

Each of the recipients receive a specially cast medal and a lapel pin and their name is engraved on the floating trophy which is a Chi Wara, a ceremonial headdress from Mali, that is on permanent display in the foyer of the UJ ARTS Centre Theatre. The recipients are asked to give the Tunkie Memorial Lecture, which is organised by the UJ Arts Centre.

This year’s award was announced on Monday night during the Gala Opening of the FNB Dance Umbrella Festival in Newtown, by Dr Ivan May and a few of the previous recipients of the award including, Adrienne Sichel and Sylvia Glasser.

Previous recipients of the award are:
2003: David Thatanelo April
2004: Alfred Hinkel posthumously, Jackie Mbuyiselwa Semela
2005: Sylvia Glasser
2006: Robyn Orlin
2007: Jay Pather, Lifetime Achievement, Philip Stein
2008: Nicola Danby
2009: Adrienne Sichel

History of the Tunkie Award
Once upon a time, there was a young man, born of a very humble home, in East London in 1961, and whose schooling at Peddie in the Eastern Cape was interrupted by the 1976 riots. Undaunted, the young Xolani Nettleton Dyusha, nicknamed, Tunkie, set off, quite alone, in search of his fortune in Egoli – the City of Gold.

He arrived with all his worldly possessions packed into the smallest of suitcases, the sort a kiddie takes to primary school. But, he had a big heart and an even bigger determination to succeed. Apartheid’s grip was tightening, was at its most vicious, when he arrived in Johannesburg in the early 1980s. He fortunately knew people who were willing to assist him and he seized the opportunities proffered with open arms and both hands. The young man blossomed into adulthood.

Tunkie battled the system and despite enormous obstacles was able to further his education at a tertiary level, completing qualifications in business; marketing; and sales. He seized the challenge presented to him in the early 1990’s and worked with the team that conceptualised and subsequently launched the Nedbank Arts and Culture Affinity Programme, culminating in the establishment of ACT, the Arts and Culture Trust of the President, with former President, Nelson Mandela as its patron.

Tunkie was involved in many initiatives and arts sponsorships that set the trend for corporate South Africa, post the sanctions era: the Dance Theatre of Harlem; the first post-sanctions cultural tour, officially announced at the United Nations; the London Philharmonic Orchestra; Kiri te Kanawa; Lord of the Dance; Maestro Raffa’s stadium extravaganza of Verdi’s Aida; and more local arts sponsorships including: Sylvia Glasser’s Tranceformations; The JDT’s presentation of Day of the Fawn; Also the production of Still Life at the Penguin Cafe; A Bolshoi Prima Ballerina starring in Gizelle; Retrospective exhibitions of the now late Ernest Mancoba and George Pemba; Gerard Sekoto; The painting of the fire curtain by local artists at the Artscape drama theatre; La Boheme Noir; and Fidelio at Artscape, post the Mandela release. However, Tunkie’s greatest dedication remained dance.

Though no dancer himself, he believed passionately in the art of movement; freedom of expression; the language of the body; innovation; and the creative forces needed for excellence. Tunkie believed that dance in South Africa was vital to the success of the arts generally: all that was needed was talent, will and determination to succeed. Even apartheid could not suppress South Africa’s God-given talents.

Testimony to these beliefs are the many dancers; choreographers; and dance company managements whom today possibly still whisper a quiet word of gratitude to him for his foresight and dogged determination: amongst significant others, too numerous to mention are: Collen Hlatshwayo; David April; Felicity de Jager; Gladys Agulhas; Alfred Hinkel; Sylvia Glasser; Free Flight Dance Company; Portia Mashigo; Vincent Mantsoe; Gregory Maqoma; Carly Dibokoane; Moketsi Koena; Melody Putu; the Johannesburg Dance Foundation, and many in the African Footprint company.

Also the late David Seperepere; Jackie Semela; and Colin Myburgh are counted amongst those whose lives he influenced.

Tunkie was a charming person: quiet; gentle; unassuming; and very caring. He was loved by all for his engaging personality and described by many as 'A gentle man and a gentleman', yet wholly dedicated to his future success, with an iron will to succeed, despite the adversities that life had dealt him. It is in memory of this fine South African; his beliefs; ethics; and values, an unsung hero, that the ‘Tunkie’ and Tunkie Memorial Lecture have been established for Dance in South Africa.

The University of Johannesburg’s Arts Centre curates the Tunkie Award. We consider this a great honour, says Rita van den Heever, Head of the Arts Centre, especially in light of the prestigious nature of the award. The University of Johannesburg and The Arts Centre are able to give the award the status that it and the recipients deserve.