About

Celia van den Berg

Sweef Kommunikasie- en Dramastudio is in 1998 gestig. Die studio het uitgebrei en ‘n naam verwerf as ‘n kreatiewe speel- en leerplek waar kinders hulself as bekwaam kan ervaar. Ek gee al sedert my studentedae dramaklasse en het ook ‘n draai as aktrise by TRUK gemaak. My passie vir kinderdrama kon ek ook uitleef as teksskrywer by SABC vir kinderprogramme soos Wielie Walie en Onderstebodem.

Deur die jare het die invloed van drama in kinders se lewens my gefassineer. Ek studeer verder en ontdek dat drama as vak aan al die vereistes van die Neuro-opvoedige beginsels voldoen. Die kreatiewe, ontspanne atmosfeer prikkel goedvoel-hormone en die stimulasie van beweging en emosie sorg dat die deelnemer omvattend betrokke is by die werk. Taalvermoë, verbeelding, geheue, konsentrasie, selfvertroue, emosionele intelligensie, spanwerk, deursettingsvermoë en ‘n aanvoeling vir estetika word verbeter. Ek leer ook dat Eric Jensen, kundige in die breingebasseerde onderwysveld, in sy boek Art with the Brain in Mind, drama as vak uiters hoog aanskryf.

Ek verwerf my doktorsgraad en werk sedert 2012 as ‘n deeltydse dosent by die Universiteit van Pretoria waar ek my besig hou met Proses Drama en die pedagogie van drama. My studente se terugvoer oor die waarde van die vak in hul beroepslewens inspireer my nog meer en ek brei my studio se kurrikulum gedurig uit om meer geleenthede vir groei aan kinders te bied.

Die Sweef-span skep herhaaldelik nuwe uitdagings. Sweef- Kommunikasie en Dramastudio was betrokke as die hoofstigter van die Pierneefteater Kunstefees wat steeds ‘n gewilde fees in Pretoria is. Ons program bied, buiten die deelname aan feeste en die Spraak en Drama Kollege SA se eksamens, werkswinkels aan soos byvoorbeeld: Kommunikasie met Boelies onderleiding van Prof. Cecilia Bouwer. Ons leer die deelnemers om kamera werk te kan doen, bied mimiekkonserte aan en het onlangs skryfkuns as ‘n verdere vaardigheid vir kinders begin ontwikkel. In 2021 skryf ons die eerste leerders in vir internasionale eksamens in spraak en drama. Hierdie kursus bied ‘n basis geleentheid aan vir studente wat in die toekoms in die buiteland wil studeer.

Die rykdom van drama en die kuns van goeie kommunikasie is vir my die grootste geskenk wat ek aan kinders kan gee. Ek bly ‘n lewenslange student wat die geleentheid om met kinders te werk as ‘n groot voorreg sien.

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I founded Sweef Communication and Drama Studio in 1998. The studio expanded as a creative venue where children can experience themselves as competent learners. Since my early days as a drama teacher, the impact of drama on the lives of children has fascinated me. I discovered during my post-graduate studies that drama complies fully with all the parameters of neuro-educational principles. A drama lesson's creative and relaxed atmosphere creates the atmosphere for the secretion of endorphins. Drama stimulates language skills, imagination, memory, concentration, self-confidence, emotional intelligence, teamwork, resilience and a sense of aesthetics. In his book "Arts with the brain in mind", Eric Jansen states that drama scores the highest of all the arts as an intelligence booster.

I obtained my doctors' degree and have been employed since 2012 as a lecturer of Process Drama and Drama Pedagogy at the University of Pretoria. Feedback from my adult students regarding the positive influence of drama in their professional careers serves as a great inspiration. It motivated me to expand the studio's curriculum to create more space for creative growth.

The Sweef Drama team was involved with founding the Pierneef Theatre Arts Festival, a very popular festival in Pretoria. Our programme offers workshops such as How to communicate with Bullies in cooperation with Prof Cecilia Bouwer. We teach camera presentation skills and creative writing and provide the opportunity for South African children to enrol in national and international Speech and Drama courses. It serves as a foundation for students who would like to study abroad.

The richness of drama and the art of communication is the greatest gifts one can invest in children. I am a lifelong student who regards the opportunity to work with children as a great privilege.

Louis Fourie

Louis Fourie voltooi in 2006 sy Honneurs Graad in Drama by Tshwane University of Technology waar hy spesialiseer in Sang en Regie. In 2005 is hy dosent en hoof van die Drama Departement se na-uurse kursus asook bestuurder van die Rostrum Teater op die universiteitsgronde.

Hy werk as studente-omroeper vir Top Stereo, en in 2007/2008 as kopieskrywer vir Jakaranda 94.2, waar tydens hy stemopleiding vir verskeie radiostasies se omroepers, asook nuuslesers, aanbied. In 2008 studeer Louis Sielkunde I deur UNISA.

Sedert 2006 is hy ‘n drama afrigter by Sweef Kommunikasie- en Dramastudio. Hier behaal hy baie goeie resultate met die kinders as kunstefees-afrigter en kommunikasie-fasiliteerder. Hy werk as kamera-regisseur en redigeerder van Sweef se jaarlikse video-demonstrasie reekse. Sy werk is so goed ontvang dat KykNet se Top Tien Tienerprogram ‘n hele reeks van die videos uitsaai. Louis se kindergedigte word gepubliseer in Rymreise. Drie van Louis se studente presteer ook as kinderakteurs in die lokale filmbedryf.

In 2012 begin hy by Pathways Studio werk waar hy lewens- en sosiale vaardighede dmv drama strategië aanbied vir kinders en jong volwassenes met veelvuldige gestremdhede. Sedertdien bied hy in die Gauteng en die Weskaap werkswinkels aan vir personeel, oor hoe om drama strategië te implimenteer in leerprosesse vir kinders met spesiale behoeftes.

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Louis Fourie completed his Honours Degree in Drama in 2OO6 at Tshwane University of Technology, specialising in Singing and Directing. In 2005, he worked as lecturer and head of the after-hour course of the Drama Department and as manager of the Rostrum Theatre on campus.

He worked as a student radio announcer for Top Stereo and in 2007/8 as a copywriter for Jacaranda 94.2. Louis did voice training for several radio announcers and newsreaders. In 2008 he completed his Psychology 1 through UNISA.

Since 2006, Louis became a successful facilitator at Sweef Communication and Drama Studio. He specialised in coaching for art festivals and communication exams. Louis is the camera director and editor for the Sweef Drama Video productions. KykNet’s Top Tien Teenager Programme broadcasted a series of his work. He published his children’s poetry in the anthology, Rymreise. So far, three of Louis’s drama students have done very well in the film industry as child actors.

Since 2012, Louis has trained special needs children and young adults at Pathways Studio, using drama techniques to convey life and social skills. Louis presented several workshops for personnel of special needs children to assist them in training life skills by applying drama strategies.

Lydia Nel

Dit is vir my kosbaar om by kinders 'n liefde vir drama en toneelspel te kweek. Ek sien graag hoe hulle 'n positiewe selfbeeld ontwikkel. Tydens dramaklasse kry kinders die geleentheid om deel te neem aan pret aktiwiteite soos karaktarisering, mimiek, toneelspel, en dramatisering. Hulle leer vaardighede aan soos om toesprake te lewer asook om Afrikaans en Engelse gedigte voor te dra.
Elke kind is vir my kosbaar en ek sien uit daarna om hierdie jaar weer 'n kreatiewe reis met u kind te onderneem.

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I love to instil an appreciation for acting and drama in children and see how they develop positive self-esteem. In my drama classes, children can participate in fun activities like characterising, mime, theatre, and dramatisation. They develop skills to deliver speeches and recite poems in English and Afrikaans.
Children are precious, and I look forward to undertaking a journey of creativity with your child this year.

Temcke Zwiegelaar

In 2004 moes Temcke voor 'n hele saal mense praat. Die uitdaging was astronomies vir die klein, onervare lyfie. Met trane in haar oë het sy haar toespraak probeer lewer. Daarna het sy besef sy is braaf maar sy benodig die vaardighede om haarself effektief uit te druk.

In 2005 het haar pad met drama begin en oor die jare het sy die voordele daarvan in haar lewe begin ervaar. Sy het geweet dat sy met die kennis ander, jonk en groot, se lewens kan verryk. 

Nadat sy drama gaan studeer het, het sy onmiddelik begin belê in die jeug om hulle ook kosbare drama vaardighede aan te leer. Dit doen sy by haar private studio as ook ander briljante studios in die omgewing. Temcke se hart bars van trots wanneer sy sien hoe een van haar dramakinders 'n uitdaging aanpak en dit oorwin. Sy sien hoe kinders groei en hoe volwassenes doen wat nodig is om hulle self te verbeter. Sy is deel van daardie reis, en sy sien dit as 'n wonderlike eer en voorreg. 

Vandag kan sy met gemak en vol selfvertroue voor 'n gehoor staan en hulle toespreek. Sy doen dit graag met motiverende praatjies by skole of by 'n dames teegroep. Sy moedig graag mense aan om met waagmoed hulle stemme te gebruik om waarde toe te voeg. Drama is meer as net toneelspel - dit is 'n belegging in jou toekoms.
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In 2004, Temcke had to address a large audience in a hall. The challenge was enormous for the little girl. She was brave and continued with tears in her eyes but realised that she needed more skills to express herself proficiently.

She started with drama in 2005, and over the years, saw its benefits in many ways. She knew that she could enrich the lives of young and old if she could transfer her newfound skills.

After completing her drama studies, Temcke started investing in the youth to teach them drama skills. She takes pride in her students when she sees them fight and conquer, using the skills she taught. She teaches at her private studio and other studios in her community. She loves to see children and adults grow and walk a road of self-improvement. She is part of that journey, and for her, it is an honour and a privilege.

Today Temcke can address an audience with boldness and confidence. She encourages people to speak out and add value around them boldly. She loves to do motivational speaking at schools or ladies' groups.

Drama is more than acting - it is an investment in your future.

Testimonials

Amory SmithAmory Smith van Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool, Pretoria vertel:
Ek onthou soos gister my eerste drama klas by Tannie Celia, met twee vlegsels en blink ogies het ek baie uitgesien na wat ek gaan leer. As ek terugkyk na die afgelope 8 jaar by Sweef Kommunikasie- en Dramastudio, kan ek nie glo watter mylpale ek bereik het, en hoe my menswees gegroei en ontwikkel het nie. Ek onthou nog my eerste mimiek kunswedstryd tot my ongelooflike verrykende Senior gevorderde kommunikasie eksamen wat ek die jaar voltooi het onder Tannie Celia se ervare hand en inspirasie.

Die leiding en afrigting wat ek oor die afgelope 8 jaar ontvang het laat my glo dat drama nie net ‘n optrede is nie, maar beslis my leefstyl. Dit is ‘n proses van ontwikkeling en ervarings op soveel gebiede in die dramawêreld. Sweef Kommunikasie- en Dramastudio het my gehelp met ontwikkeling van karakters in die teater, Alice in Wonderland musiekblyspel as hoofrol, asook Cinderella musiekblyspel as hoofrol, en op die skerm (Raaiselkind).

Ek wil vandag stil staan en dankie se vir die harde werk en toewyding, wat die Studio elke leerder bied, om sy of haar volle potensiaal te kan bereik, en in die proses te groei en lewensvaardighede aan te leer, wat ons lewenslank kan gebruik en om jong akteurs/aktrises te vorm.

Amory Smith: 2010 - 2018