See: Kampala National Theatre
I attended the Ugandan National Contemporary Ballet
and Dance Week Uganda (25th - 27th February 2011)
On the opening night there was a free, outdoor display of 40 dancers and a fashion show. An excellent atmosphere and a surprising mix of locals and "mesungus".
To see my photo album of the event click HERE
Taking part in Dance Week were the very well respected Break Dance Troupe, Tabu Flo
I met with a member of the group: Abdul, for an interview where we discussed what it was like to be a break dancer in Uganda. INTERVIEW COMING SOON.
Tabu Flo are part of the project Breakdance Uganda
breakdanceuganda@yahoo.com or tekyabra@yahoo.com
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO
Breakdance Project Uganda (BPU) is a Non-Profit organization which uses breaking (breakdance) and other elements of Hiphop to promote social change and social responsibility.
Tabu Flo will be at Sadler's Wells at the end of April. Take a look at this article on the group by the economist: Tabu Flo, Dancer of the Night
and facebook group
They're excellent, talented people, very approachable and are at the start of what I think will be a very exciting career.
Irish-Ugandan film-maker, Emile Dineen, (dancingcranium@yahoo.co.uk) who helped set up the Breakdance Project is making a feature length documentary on Tabu-Flo and their new work “Night Dancers”. It was handpicked by Jonzi D, a British rapper who is the creative director of the “Breakin’ Convention” streetdance festival at Sadler’s Wells.
Bouncing Cats is a film, Directed by Nabil Elderkin and about Hip Hop and Breakdance bringing social change in Uganda- well worth a look.
Bouncing Cats Film Trailer
Bouncing Cats Film Website
Whilst in Kampala I also went to see the slightly more touristy but still endearing Ndere Dance Troupe at the Ndere Centre
To view further images of the evening please click HERE
I was also very lucky to witness a Ugandan talent contest (!) at Riverford Training Centre and Organic Farm in the town of Mukono, about an hours drive from Kampala. The centre is run by the brilliant Timothy Njakasi timothynjakasi@yahoo.com or http://sendacowuganda.com
The show included power cuts, karaoke where you don't actually sing, you just mime and discovering that you put money into the contenders pockets to show you think they're creatively talented, nothing else.
