‘One, step! Two, step! Three, step!’ commands the dance instructor on the night of Saturday the 28^th August. It is the

The cosmopolitan electric jazz club is conveniently situated near the corner of Loop Street and outside the queue gradually builds a certain kind of energy. On the pleasantly cool evening, night-life is transformed from the characteristic smart casual of the 1920s Old School to the swagger of a revived culture of Swing. Costume is thrown to the wind as patrons come dressed only in what their wardrobe has on offer and throw them altogether to create their own eclectic interpretation.

Cape Town locals mostly came dressed in black and white fashion of flapper and baby-doll dresses, with sequenced pumps and high-heels accentuated with pearl necklaces, glitz and garish feathers seen everywhere. Guys came dressed as encouraged, in Fedora and Trilby hats, zoot suits, suspenders accessorised with shiny two-tone shoes. Perspiration visibly drips as guys and gals in their twenties to their thirties loose themselves to the incandescent notes of swing and electro-swing sets by DJs Honey B, Mix ‘n Blend, Fred Spider and Lt Fizzer.

Experienced and inexperienced dancers seem to loose their cares through the bold hotsy-totsy whoop-doo-dah moves on the crowded Club Zoom Zoom’s floor.  ‘Here’s the thing you need to know, just make it all up as you go’ sings Louis Prima. However, I must caution you, not everyone can restrict themselves to the dance floor – the seated me being testament to one guy’s shiny shoe kick doing a number to my already beat-bobbing head as he brashly Swings it on out!

That aside, it’s the perfect fix for the culture-spirited night crawler looking for an unadulterated rush. Well, I’m keen to know when will Cape Town experience the next explosition of Swing, but in the mean time, I’ll be practising at dance class.

Words by Nadine R. Arendse

Photography by Denzil Paris Jacobs

Esther, the autodidact, breathes a different kind of life into the skulls of animals deceased due to natural causes – old-age, illness, and traffic accidents. Her Dark Art gives Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride an almost lifelike quality, captivating yet unsettling to the viewer with its charm and human-like quality.

The artist is qualified in textile art and perused work in mental healthcare thereafter. “I create mainly so-called skull dolls, human-like figures with an animal skull.” She elaborates, “Sometimes these figures have an open skirt with scenery inside, and sometimes they have a dynamic pose or are automata. Even though the figures have an animal skull, a lot of people can identify themselves with the human emotions they express. My work can be classified as Light Dark Art.”

Her animal skull-doll figures attract whomever wishes to listen to the story it has to tell.

“He lived to paint and painted until the day he died, far removed from the noise of the art world.” reflects New York-based art dealer William Acquavella. The intense realist artist and acute observer gave each brushstroke purpose to uncover every nuance, every detail which in turn was thought unnerving. Markedly described as a talker for his skill of telling witty stories and anecdotes to his ‘models’ who posed for hours on end, all the while Lucian considered where to give his just cleaned-off brushstroke finality. The prolific artist had no restraint concerning his bias towards other artists like Leonardo da Vinci categorising him as a bad painter. Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s work was perhaps even more harshly slated by the opinionated Lucian who found his work to be “the nearest painting can get to bad breath”.

His masterpieces fetched astonishing prices during his career. An example is the painting of a voluptuous nude woman sleeping on a couch that drew an astonishing $33.6 million. He remained fervent to his approach of representational painting as opposed to Abstract Expressionism trending at the time, which was finally revered by critics and collectors alike. Nicholas Serota, director of the Tate, said: “The vitality of his nudes, the intensity of the still life paintings and the presence of his portraits of family and friends guarantee Lucian Freud a unique place in the pantheon of late 20th century art.” However Starr Figura, a curator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York notably remarks, “He has certainly divided critics”.

The legendary artist’s turning point came in the early 1960’s when he changed his style of his composition to one of intensity. 1992 saw a highlight in his career as people lined up to have their portraits solidified by his hand however uncomplimentary. Many have been caught on canvas in addition to the Queen, a nude pregnant Jerry Hall, the obese Australian performance artist, Leigh Bowery, Kate Moss naked and himself a year later represented as a scrawny nude in a pair of old boots.

Not only expressive with his brushstrokes, but also with his fists. “It wasn’t because I liked fighting, it was really just that people said things to me which I felt the only reply was to hit them.” Perhaps unexpected for a man awarded the fashion magazine GQ’s title of Britain’s Best Dressed Men while well into his mature years.

“I think his work is very charged, and it is quite disturbing to look at,” continues Figura. “That’s what gives people a problem and that’s what gives his work power and fascination. His work is incredibly personal, and that comes through. On the other hand it is also very detached and critical and that is what makes it so intense.” His works hang in renowned galleries ensuring that the legendary artist’s masterpieces continue to be viewed and critically appreciated.

From a tastefully subdued Cape Town Fashion Show at the CTICC to the ridiculously hyped two-finger waving

The African Fashion International builds momentum as Dr Rey bobs his head to the music on the balcony while buddying up to the Australian lingerie designer, Bruno Schiavi behind the label, LingeRey. A-listers, not to mention rugby players have their champagne glasses topped and ready for the unveiling of the LingeRey Shapewear line.

Dr Rey the King of PR starts the night on a heavy note driving the point accross that he will bring “sexy back” to South Africa. The fashion show sees smoking hot women clad only in his Shapewear garments and strutting in “ladies of the night” boots. His wife and co-collaborator, French-Canadian born Hayley models the Spandex jeans in brassiere and heels, accompanied disconcertly by their daughter on the catwalk. Goody bags contain Dr Rey’s cosmetic line Sensual Solutions and he capitalises on every moment to promote his book, Body by Rey along with the diet.

Hayley shares with one small seed that not only is she happily married to the Doctor, but also that a jewellery collection is on the horizon. Both Bruno and the Dr disclose that they’ll be extending their fashion line to men. This Doctor never seems to leave room for a dull moment.

Friday’s line-up started with Lisp. The collection continues to make jumpsuits a trend with a dash of rock and roll. LISP’s well-put together range seems like one block continuously reworked to give a simple romantic feel with subtle spurts of edginess.

The Nucleus compilation saw more of a muted colour palette. Playsuits were playfully sexy finished off with spaghetti straps in complementary fabric choices.

Lalesso driven by prints inspired by the digital era that the African continent is entering into. The clothing comprised of clean silhouettes that were stylishly simple.

Undacova men’s underwear line remains loyal to its inspiration of the 70’s beach holidays and nautical lines, colours, prints and silhouettes. The women’s wear line is retro and “girlie” – knickers, risers and boyfriend printed tees.

Da Martixn drew his inspiration from the recent volcanic eruptions. The range captures the red baking hot lava oozing into the cool ocean water. Gayle Johnston, the designer of the flowing outerwear, adds contrast beautifully to the swimwear range.

The Carducci Men’s wear Resort range sees floral this time round confined to trims in collars and cuffs making it slightly dressed down, but still tailored.

Friday night’s glitz and glam is captured on video with the likes of Dax Martin, the designer for the Carducci Menswear -House of Monatic and Dr Rey give us insight into their 2010/2011 collections.

The Rolling Stones pay a tweet tribute to the late Michael Bursten. “We’re sad to report that former Motörhead guitarist Michael “Würzel” Bursten has died at the age of 61. RIP.” reads the tweet.  The legendary guitarist  and former co-writer to the Motörhead band was born 23 October 1949 and sadly died 9 July 2011, allegedly attributed to a heart disease.

The first of  his nine album’s being the 1984’s No Remorse to 1995’s Sacrifice with the Motörhead band. The talented guitarist performed with different bands including Warhead and the punk group Splodgenessabounds. The Motörhead’s drummer, Mikkey Dee shared with Swedish newspaper Expressen, “(He was) more rock and roll, than all of us put together. He was wonderful, he was really funny. There was a lot of rock and roll in the old man.” The band too paid homage at Sonisphere – “We’d like to dedicate this set and our lives to Würzel”.

Michael Bursten served as a corporal in the British Army and there nicknamed “Würzel”. It stuck due to his characteristic features resembling that of the scarecrow in Worzel Gummidge, the children’s British TV show. Notably late Michael “Würzel” Bursten’s career took off at age 35 from builder in earning an audition to fill the spot of  Brian “Robbo” Robertso from Motörhead. He made his debut featuring as the fourth member of British Motörhead band while appearing in the cult comedy sitcom, The Young Ones.

Würzel had an unforgetable meeting with the Rolling Stones at the 100 Club in London. Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister of Motörhead, describes the incident, “Würzel ran down there, all excited, and, just as he comes to the bottom (basement) , Bill Wyman (the Stones bassist) comes along, and he hits him full-on and lands him flat on his back … Great start to the evening, you know? ‘Hello, Bill, I’ve always been a fan of yours. Oh sorry, have I knocked you out?'”

This memorable guitarist was recording with Leader of Down – recently formed before his passing.  Michael “Würzel” Bursten, a legend from his  Motörhead days continues to be celebrated.

Below Würzel can still be seen performing with the headbanging Motörhead band to Steal Your Face (Live Birthday Party ’85) before separating in 1995.