Kirvan Fortuin (10 August 1991 – 13 June 2020) was a Khoikhoi First nation dancer, choreographer and LGBT activist, the child of Ms Charlotte Fortuin, a Khoikhoi community stripped of language, land and culture and who were erased as a people post-democracy South Africa

Career

Born in Macassar, Fortuin joined the Cape Whalers Field Band in 2002, which prompted their interest in dance. They began formal dance training at the University of Cape Town in 2010, studying classical dance, contemporary dance, African dance and other dance forms. Fortuin qualified with a dance teacher's diploma in 2012 and performed that year at the International Theatre School Festival in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. They received a BMus (Hons) in choreography from University of Cape Town, and a Bachelor of Dance from Codarts University for the Arts in Rotterdam. Fortuin choreographed works for the

Cape Town City Ballet The Cape Town City Ballet Company, formerly known as the CAPAB Ballet Company, is a dance company based in Cape Town, South Africa. History The Cape Town City Ballet originated from the UCT Ballet Company, which was established by Dulcie Howe ...

, Dance Umbrella Johannesburg, Vrystaat Kunstefees,

Artscape Theatre Centre Artscape Theatre Centre (formerly Nico Malan Theatre Centre) is the main performing arts centre in Cape Town, South Africa. It was opened in 1971 and is located on reclaimed land in the Foreshore area. The inaugural performance was scheduled to ...

, Suidoosterfees, Afrovibes NL & SA and the Afrikaanse Kultuurfees. They founded House of Le Cap, South Africa's first ballroom house, in 2017. As an LGBT activist, Fortuin hosted Africa's first Vogue Ball on World AIDS Day to raise awareness and fund for the LGBT community affected by HIV.

Awards and recognition

In 2012, Fortuin received the Best International Production (Guest Award) at the International Theatre School Festival in Amsterdam. University of Cape Town recognised them with an award for Meritorious Achievement in the Performing and Creative Arts in 2012. From 2014 to 2015 Fortuin was recognised by Krisztina de Chatel's foundation, Stichting Imperium, and received a stipend from the organisation. Fortuin was the recipient of the Dance Award for Modern Dance from the

Pierino Ambrosoli Foundation The Pierino Ambrosoli Foundation is dedicated to Daniela Ambrosoli’s father, Pierino Ambrosoli, a successful Italian/Swiss industrialist and her mother, Sonja Bragowa, a former dancer in the 1920s. The foundation is not due to the testamen ...

in Zurich. In 2019 Fortuin was awarded the Ministerial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Preservation and Promotion of an Indigenous Art Form from the

Western Cape Government The Western Cape province of South Africa is governed in a parliamentary system in which the people elect the Provincial Parliament, and the parliament elects the Premier as head of the executive. The Premier leads a cabinet of provincial minis ...

Death

Fortuin was fatally stabbed on 13 June 2020 in their hometown of Macassar. A fourteen-year-old girl was arrested in connection with their death.

Choreographed works

*''An Aborted Beginning'' (a dance film) *''Loud Silence: In The Memory of Her Mind'' *''Kirby K'', premiered in September 2014 *''When They Leave'' (with Romane Petit), premiered in May 2015 at De Doelen Theatre, Rotterdam *''Tussen Niks en Nêrens'', premiered on 25 November 2015 *''After 9'', premiered on 9 April 2016 *''Stille Water'', premiered on 9 April 2016 at Compagnietheater, Amsterdam *''Abashante!'', premiered on 27 May 2016 at , Rotterdam *''Nomvula'', premiered on 3 September 2016, The Hague *''Rite: Ndinyindoda siyaya...'', premiered on 2 October 2016, Rotterdam *''Silver & Gold (You&I)'', premiered on 4 March 2017 at Dance Umbrella Johannesburg, Wits Theatre Complex *''In Your Hands'', premiered on 22 September 2017 at

, Cape Town *''Katrina Die Dansende Taal'', premiered on 19 September 2018 at

, Cape Town

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fortuin, Kirvan 1992 births 2020 deaths People from Cape Town University of Cape Town alumni South African ballet dancers South African HIV/AIDS activists Deaths by stabbing in South Africa South African LGBTQ rights activists Ball culture people South African choreographers Codarts University for the Arts alumni