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Modern dance in Kampala

Thursday September 04 2014
dance

Former students of Namasagali College performing a modern dance in the play ‘Any Cow will do.’ PHOTO | COURTESY

The National Theatre in Kampala recently hosted the Dance Week Uganda Festival, where 50 dancers from 12 dance companies performed various forms of dances.

The festival founder and director, Julius Lugaaya, a Kampala-based dance instructor, says he developed the idea of starting this festival during his exchange encounters in Moscow, in 2003.

“Dance Week was designed as a platform where dancers in the region could meet, exchange ideas about technique, methods and training through performance of different dance forms and promotion of new talent in the region.”

It has however not been easy for purveyors of modern dance in Uganda. There is hardly any dedicated training space, performing house, instructors, or even funding, let alone the fact that the general public tends to perceive modern dance not as an art, but rather a “white man’s pastime.”

Still Lugaaya, is however upbeat: “Modern dance has registered growth because there is a niche demand for this form of entertainment. But we need better working and performing spaces, instructors, training in production techniques such as lighting, sound, costumes, props and make-up.” There are currently 22 dance companies involved in the promotion of modern dance in the country.

According to Samuel Ibanda, co-director of Latin Flavor Night Uganda, “Some Ugandans are realising that dance is a gift and that part of it comes from our heritage. I have realised that it is hard for some people to comprehend new ideas and visions. So this comes with a lot of misunderstanding and mischief. Audiences do not come in big numbers to the National Theatre. It would be nice for them to watch and appreciate modern dance. 

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“It takes a lot of work and time for a dancer to put on one performance, yet some people think it is a matter of jumping up and down. Turning dance into one’s livelihood is not easy, because people will ask you, ‘So when will you get a real job?,” Ibanda adds.

The audience that turned up for this year’s dance festival was treated to various forms of dance. Showing great creativity, the dancers exploited light, sound, costumes and space to their fullest. They tackled wide ranging themes from love and gender equality to rape to war.

The Yutta Konvintz dance company presented a 10-minute piece tilted Incomplete, which is a work in progress exploring the spiritual being and soul interaction.

In a one-man performance by choreographer Desire Kenneth Tereka, the Yutta Konvintz director, he covered his head with a bucket and chanted, indicating that he had lost his mind and was trying to connect with the non-existent world. Tereka said he got his inspiration from watching mad people on the streets of Kampala.

The Inspirations Dance Company presented a five-minute dance, You and I, which is about creating equal opportunities for young women and girls to express their talents and ideas to their full potential. It explores relationship dynamics. It follows the idea that we are all here to support one another to reach our goals.

Speed and Funky Dance Academy performed Love You Mama – an expression of love for our mothers. They presented it with the unique Afro-tap style, combined with hip-hop and contemporary African dance.

As to what impact the festival has had in Uganda and in the region, Lugaaya said, “Dance Week is a realisation of a dream for young dancers as far as their lives, talent and dance is concerned.

There are now dance shows on television in the region. Dance Week has given birth to other festivals in the region.”

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