By Kennedy Nyavaya in Nanjing, China
Jacaranda Culture and Media Corporation (JCMC) and China Africa Economic and Culture Exchange Research Centre (CAECERC) the organisers behind Dream Star talent competition, will next year spread their wings into the movie and fashion sectors as part of their local talent development, the Standard Style has learnt.
A total of 15 young Dream Star alumni are set to land in the country today after a fruitful cultural exchange tour of Nanjing, China where they staged three shows from Wednesday to Friday last week.
Speaking in a wide ranging interview, Dream Star director Steve Zhao said they were investing a lot into creating spaces for local creatives to showcase their artistry without much hassles.
“Next year we plan to come up with a movie department because we have realised that our people in Zimbabwe have the skills and knowledge, but what they lack is a platform so we will set it up,” said Zhao.
“We are making these ideas based on the minister’s recent vision to turn the local film industry into Hollywood standards so we will do that next year and also we will be sending our teams to international fashion shows by 2021.”
Through Dream Star talent show, which came to life in 2014, JCMC, has facilitated international tours, recording deals and scholarships to Chinese universities among other benefits for its participants.
Zhao said: “We always try to push our local artistes into the international scene and now we are trying to expand that through attending various festivals across the world showcasing their music,dance and modeling talents among many other ways.”
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Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe troupe staged four electric performances, which attracted applauses and noises of appreciation in packed Nanjing venues.
An ecstatic Dream Star art director Leonard Mapfumo said their showcase stood as a sign of hope for the country’s cutthroat arts terrain.
“I’m proud that tonight they have shown professionalism and an ability to perform at such an international standard, with such motivated young artistes the future of the country is bright,” said Mapfumo.
