When growing up in Uganda, a person who chose a career in Music, Dance and Drama(MDD) was often ridiculed by being called “Musilu Dala Dala!” [very very stupid].
Now imagine it is the future:
Saturday night on WBS TV. SoundsLikeThis The hottest dance show; “Strictly come dancing: Uganda Chapter” is on. Ugandan musician Jose Chameleon is dancing the flamenco with Monela, an agile companion from “G-force” dance group.
The judges are Stephen Rwangyezi of Ndere Troupe, Roger Masaba, formerly of Footsteps dance company and Sharon O Nalukenge of The Obsessions and Big Brother Africa: Amplified fame. Jose gets 6-6-7 from the judges. Fellow musician Bobi Wine together with Natasha of Kombat dancers win, BUT only because 86 year old ballroom maestro Christopher Kato had declined to participate in this year’s show.
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In case you are wondering what I am talking about, party-worldwide Strictly come dancing is a popular BBC show in the UK in which various celebrities get to dance with a professional dancer partner over the season of the show. Judges and the TV audience get to vote who stays until the ultimate winning couple is declared.
And what does Strictly come dancing have to do with investing in the dance and entertainment sector in Uganda, the aim of this article?
Well, I am interested in the future and I can tell you that as long as music(and therefore dance) continues to be the dominant form of entertainment in Uganda then I will not be surprised if this is where the trend is going, you are probably thinking; “not so “Musilu Dala Dala” then hmm?”
Which means that it is a sector worth looking at, however, a person seeking to invest in a dance group should know as a start without me going into further details that for a dance group to survive, MusicFocus they will have to diversify their sources of income or in Ugandan speak, find “side deals” just like say America’s best dance crew champions, the Jabbawockeez who now feature in videos and on TV shows.
First the CONS (of course):
- Finding a good Choreographer
This is the driving force and inspiration of the group. The choreographer thus needs to be at his/best for the company to compete favorably. The difference after all between a good and poor group lies with the choreographer’s skills.
Sadly there are not many good dance choreographers and trainers in Uganda. There is a huge gap in to be filled in this sector. Filmy-Mantra The likes of 86 year old ball room maestro Christopher Kato are in the evening of their careers, yet there seems to be no ready replacements.
