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Valérie Miquel, choreographer

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Uganda National Contemporary Ballet

Uganda National

"RESTLESS NIGHT"

21 July in Kampala

MEMORIES OF CHILD SOLDIERS

17 March in Kampala

The middle way

18-20 June in Kampala

photos from recent performances

Uganda: Contemporary Ballet Dance Meets Poetry
Edwin Nuwagaba 22 November 2010

Contemporary dance was never a thing that Ugandans went out there to enjoy. But today, there seems to be a steadily growing love for the dance genre. This was evident when a fair number turned up last Wednesday for Uganda National Contemporary Ballet's performance at the National Theatre.
The performance was characterised with expressive emotions and vigour. One of the most memorable dances started with birds hissing in the background, as two women in pure red dresses, pushed their bodies lazily to the sound of the music from traditional drums. Bare-chested male dancers rose to their feet one by one and danced in similar movements with the ladies as they stamped their feet on the floor. Whereas the piece hooked the audience, along the way, it turned out to be monotonous.
To lighten up the evening though, there was some poetry by Pamela Acaye. And unlike the ordinary recitals we have seen before, she spiced it up with dramatic expressions. After a couple of dances, she came on stage with a bitter face telling the audience how troubled she was. She then fell (deliberately) on the stage, stretching her hand like she wanted to sip water. Her name was Nakaga, a woman who was sexually abused. She said her former lover was forcing her to abort. Acaye acted out the piece as Joel Sebunjo did what he does best: playing the Kora.
When she was done, Valerie Miquel the group's choreographer performed a piece of a woman stuck in a wooden cage. When she got out of the cage, male dancers surrounded her, and each of them wanted to have a moment with her but she wasn't interested. The lustful men got closer and later turned violent and forced the lady on the ground. When she managed to escape, the audience sheered loudly. It was the sensual, lust, fantasy, violence and ballet movements fused with abstract dance elements that made the piece outstanding.
Meanwhile, the dance transmissions festival kick-started on Monday at the National Theatre and it will end this Sunday

NOW ON YOUTUBE! ➪

Uganda National Contemporary Ballet

perform Rite of Spring

Choreography by Valerie Miquel
Percussionnist: Hermann Ssewanyana
Dancers: Patrick Kaddu, Peter Kalifa, Brovin Kato, Valérie Miquel, Walter Ruva, Nassif Wangubo,

New comers: Phionah Mirembe, Dennis Katongolo

See ALL THE videos here

Monday, 26th April, 2010

Contemporary dance gets niche

By Emmanuel Ssejjengo

Uganda National Contemporary Ballet’s latest dance piece at the National Theatre last weekend, defined the group more than any of its other pieces. The Rite of Spring, inspired by Igor Stavinsky’s classical music

Two of the members of the group performing at the National Theatre

composition by the same name, had the European symbols that related a universal experience.

The company has often boasted of bringing a European flavour to African contemporary dance. For the first time perhaps, it made a balance of the two. With Herman Ssewanyana playing drums , the piece became more vibrant.

It was a progressive story that relied on various emotions. Taking spring as a point of indecisiveness, the piece had back and forth movements. The varied costume kept the rule of bright flashy colours.

There were the celebratory styles (the dancers flying like birds eager to be released) and the mundane in which their energy was kept to a bare minimal.

With this work, one feels that Valerie Miquel, the group’s choreographer, is finally making herself relevant to Ugandan audiences.

Read more of what the press is saying here