Ana Isabel Ordonez's THE AYE to Celebrate the 85th Birthday of Monseigneur Desmond Tutu in Cape Town

THE AYE, a stage show adapted from Ana Isabel Ordonez's internationally acclaimed book, THE EXTRAORDINARY LOVE STORY OF AYE AYE AND FEDOR, will be performed to celebrate the 85th birthday of Nobel Peace Laureate Monseigneur Archbishop Desmond Tutu as a part of the Sixth Annual Desmond Tutu International Peace Conference in Cape Town on 7 October. The original book has been translated into four languages and Ordonez is excited about the potential of extending the story's reach through the medium of dance.

THE AYE is a dance theatre extravaganza that depicts a beautiful love story between two endangered animals: Aye Aye, a lemur, Fedor, and a white lion. Each defines the term "opposites attract" in a fantastic universe called the Musical Forest. While Aye Aye was free to run wild and enjoy the forest, Fedor was stuck in a zoo. The two meet while he is in captivity. They strike up a friendship that helps them both make some important discoveries and launches them on a journey to places they never thought they would go. Inspired by her love for Fedor, Aye Aye helps the animals at the zoo, who have had a difficult time in captivity, to escape and reunite in the Magical Forest where they are finally free, allowed to celebrate who they are. A happy ending is in store for everyone, thanks to the courage and quick thinking of Aye Aye and Fedor. Aye Aye and Fedor's journey is a great example of friendship and cooperation between friends who on the surface seem to be very different from one another, but who have similar goals and a desire to share their lives together.

The world premiere of the dance theatre adaptation in South Africa will feature a fantastic set, a superb jazz-rock score by Dutch pianist Michiel Braam, inspired choreography by Sifiso Kweyama and mischievous masks handmade in South Africa by La Carla Masks. The magical show will bring together a sparkling fusion of music (in a definitive recording by eBraam which includes drummer Dirk-Peter Kölsch, guitarists Pieter Douma and Jorg Lehnardt and harpist Ulrike von Meyer), dance (by Jazzart Dance Theatre) and amusing narration (by singer Dean Bowman). THE AYE will be performed by Jazzart Dance Theater company dancers Adam Malebo and Tracey September, who will be joined by second-year trainees Abdul-Aaghier Isaacs, Amber Jodie Andrews, Darion Adams, Gabriella Dirkse, Ilze Williams, Keenun Wales, Luyanda Mdingi, Lynette du Plessis, Mandisi Ngcwayi, Paxton-Alice Simons, Siphosethu Gojo, Tanzley Jooste, Thandiwe Mqokeli and Vuyolwethu Nompetsheni.

With THE AYE ballet, ORDONEZ wants to bring happiness and awareness to others, to touch the inner being of people she does not know. She also wants to touch young dancers with a unique love story filled with wisdom and rhythm, surrounding a loving friendship that exists between threatened animals. As both lemurs and white lions are rare and threatened species, so this show speaks to the important issue of appreciating and protecting endangered animals.

About the Creative Team

Director and choreographer Sifiso Kweyama was born and bred in KwaZulu Natal. He has established himself as one of the most respected teachers and choreographers in the country. Sifiso started training in 1989 at Phenduka Dance Theatre in Durban and, in 1993, joined Jazzart Dance Theatre in Cape Town where he was trained in Contemporary African Dance by Alfred Hinkel and went on to perform in numerous Jazzart's award winning productions. His dance career has seen him travel to countries such as Morocco, America, Germany, Abidjan, Angola and China. He has choreographed numerous works for various companies both locally and abroad, with companies such as Moving Into Dance, Ballet Theatre Afrikan, Flatfoot Dance Company, Jazzart Dance Theatre, First Physical Theatre, Remix Dance Company and Repertory Dance Company (USA). He is currently the artistic director of Jazzart Dance Theatre.

Production company Jazzart Dance Theatre is one of South Africa's leading contemporary dance companies, having has exerted a powerful influence on the development of dance in South Africa for more than four decades. The company has over the years garnered many awards for innovative choreography and the consistent development of extraordinary performers. The Jazzart methodology ensures that strong technique is matched with a uniquely South African dance philosophy that is rooted in the diversity of the culture and traditions of the country. Its prodigious creative and critical output allow Jazzart to use dance as a transformative tool and to interrogate fully the issues of social awareness and cultural inclusiveness, thus embodying the transformative principles and values of South Africa's Bill of Rights.

Producer, writer, poet and illustrator Dr Ana Isabel Ordonez is a renaissance woman who shares her love of the natural world with young readers. An educator, scientist and lecturer, Ordonez has travelled the world, enjoyed varied cultural experiences and met interesting people and animals along the way. Having completed masters and doctorate degrees in genetics, forestry and animal biology, she has a strong base of knowledge when it comes to various animal species, helping make her books and poetry educational, inspirational and entertaining. Her goal when writing THE EXTRAORDINARY LOVE STORY OF AYE AYE AND FEDOR was to show both the diversity and the similarities between members of the animal kingdom. She also wanted to communicate the idea that like humans, animals want to be happy, respected, safe and free.

Composer Michiel Braam is a Dutch pianist and educator, Director of the Jazz Pop Music and Dance Department in Niemejen, Netherlands. An absolute maverick on the piano and in his compositions, he is frequently seen in jazz festivals and jazz clubs around the world. THE EYE album features the group eBraam performing Braam's own jazz-rock compositions written especially for the ballet, namely "Introduction," "Aye Aye At Work." "Small Meets Big," "Prison vs. Dreamy Freedom," "Restful Peaceful," "Bad Weather," "Enclosure To Enclosure," "Escape," "Happy March," and "Love".

Mask designer Carla Engelbrecht is a South African who prides her heritage in having been exposed to art and creating beautiful environments. Her father dabbled in oil painting and her mother always encouraged her to experiment with arts and crafts. While living in Durban, she was a successful florist who composed flower arrangements for functions, weddings and events as well as running a floral art school, after which she organised job placements for her students at the completion of their course.

Monsigneur Desmond Tutu was born in the state of Transvaal at Klerksdorp in South Africa on October 7, 1931. He attended Johannesburg Bantu High School. He dreamed of being a physician but his parents could not afford to send him to medical school.

In 1954, the South African government did not extend the rights of citizenship to blacks and The National Party had risen to power on the promise of instituting a system of apartheid. South Africans were legally assigned to official racial groups; each race was restricted to a separate living area. Black people could not vote and were only represented in the local governments by tribal homeland representatives. Interracial marriage was forbidden, blacks were legally barred from certain jobs, and prohibited from forming labour unions. They needed passports for travel within the country. Critics of the system could be banned from speaking in public and subjected to house arrest.

In 1955, Tutu married Nomalizo Leah Shenxane, they have four children and have been happily married for six decades. His house on Vilakazi Street in Soweto, Johannesburg, is registered as part of Johannesburg's historical heritage.

Meanwhile, the South African government began a program of forced relocation of black Africans and Asians from newly designated white areas. Millions were deported to the homelands, then permitted to return as guest workers. From 1962 to 1966, Tutu lived in England, where he earned a master's degree in theology. He taught theology in South Africa for five years, then returned to England to serve as an assistant director of the World Council of Churches in London. In 1975, he was the first Black African to serve as Dean of St. Mary's Cathedral in Johannesburg. From 1976 to 1978, he was Bishop of Lesotho. In 1978 he became the first Black General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches.

As a Bishop, Tutu used the national platform to denounce the apartheid system as 'evil and unchristian,' calling for equal rights for all South Africans and a system of common education. He demanded the repeal of the oppressive passport laws as well as an end to forced relocation, encouraged nonviolent resistance to the apartheid regime, and advocated an economic boycott of the country. Though the government revoked his passport to prevent him from traveling and speaking abroad, his case soon drew the attention of the world and the international public raised an outcry.

International economic pressure and internal dissent forced the South African government to reform and in 1990, Nelson Mandela of the African National Congress was released after almost 27 years imprisoned on Robben Island. In 1991, the South African government began the repeal of racially discriminatory laws at last.

In 1994 after the country's first multi-racial elections, President Nelson Mandela appointed Tutu to chair the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, investigating the human rights violations of the previous 34 years. Tutu counselled forgiveness and cooperation, rather than revenge for past injustice. In 1996, he retired as Archbishop of Cape Town and was named Archbishop Emeritus. Then he served for two years as Visiting Professor of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Published collections of his speeches, sermons and other writings include CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, HOPE AND SUFFERING and THE RAINBOW PEOPLE OF GOD.

In 1999, he was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize. In 2007, Tutu joined former South African President Mandela, former President Jimmy Carter, retired U.N Secretary General Kofi Annan, and former Irish President Mary Robinson to form The Elders, a private initiative mobilising the experience of senior world leaders outside of the conventional diplomatic process. Tutu was named chair of the group. Carter and Tutu have travelled together to Darfur, Gaza and Cyprus in an effort to resolve long-standing conflicts. That same year, he was awarded the Ghandi Peace Prize.

Tutu 's historic accomplishments and his continuing efforts to promote peace in the world were recognised by the United States in 2009 when Barack Obama gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2009, Tutu also joined the project SOLDIERS OF PIECE, a movie against all wars and for global peace. He is one of the patrons of The Forgiveness Project and delivered the charity's inaugural annual lecture in 2010. In 2014, the Mayor of Cape Town, Patricia De Lille, allocated the Granary Building to Mama Leah and Tata Tutu to build a museum and preserve his legacy.

On 2 October, Tutu launched The Book of Joy with his holiness the Dalai Lama, a project to spread joy and understanding among human beings all over our planet. For six years he's been the chair of the Annual Peace Conference in Cape Town.