Batalo Dance Festival returns in 7th Edition

Dancer Lilian Nabaggala shocases an art Piece called Nambi at 2018 Batalo festival Courtesy photo

It will be a recreation of yet another similar story of dances in a greater style as over 50 dance companies, groups and individuals will be battling at the annual Batalo East Dance Festival on 31st August at Ndere Cultural Centre in Kampala.

According to the festival custodian Mr. Abdul Kinyenya alias Abdanger, the festival seeks to preserve traditional dances as well boosting talents among youth. He says that just like last year, the festival will run under a theme “Traditional Meets Urban” where various dancers will showcase a fusion of both urban and traditional dances.

“It will be traditional fused with urban market and we expect to see dance workshops, competitions, showcases and performances from all over Africa and the world” he added.

The festival will also have a five day intensive dance programme dubbed the “Batalo East Academy”  where over  40 dancers from around Africa will participate in classes taught by local and international experts who include Traditional dancer and choreographer  Ms. Amina Namakula among many.

He notes that there will be Dance cypher for all dancers and a dance competition where dancers  will battle out in various categories that include Krump, Afro house, Style Yake, 2 on 2 Newstlye Hip hop and 5 on 5 All styles crew battles.

Kinyenya notes that, this years’ festival is a roundup of monthly workshops that includes The Equation, Kuhamahama in Butaleja district and regional dance exchanges with dancers from around East Africa, DRC and Ethiopia.

Kinyenya explains that the festival was curated on the basis of building a bridge between traditional and urban dance, encouraging young people and dancers to value traditional African art forms.