Performance at Montclair Presbyterian Church

We've had a lot of exciting performances, but Montclair Presbyterian (in Oakland) had the excitement of a home game since all our homestay hosts and volunteers were there - plus the Ugandan community came out to support us! The place was packed, with people all but hanging from the rafters.

Some pictures from 2012 Tour Planning Team member Cassia Burke...

Children of Uganda's first show

     I write this as we travel home from Ukiah, a 2+ hour drive through wine country and rolling hills.

     Ukiah? What's in Ukiah? (my first thoughts…)

     What is in Ukiah, as it turns out, is an amazing Buddhist center (City of Ten Thousand Buddhas) including a K-12 day and boarding school, some university students, monks, nuns, organic farm, meditation center and restaurant. One of their high school students has been raising money for Children of Uganda, through Rotary club and other sources. So we decided to make a trip up to see them… one of the best decisions ever made!

     We were enthusiastically greeted by a gaggle of uniformed high school girls, and soon introduced to a Ugandan Buddhist Monk who took the COU children on a lecture-tour of the center. He brought them into the Buddha hall and oriented them to the meanings of various statues and paintings, drawing comparisons to Christ very frequently, and with a casualness that surprised our children. They were also surprised to find out that some people were Christian Buddhists. One girl remarked - "in Uganda I could never go into a place like this, it would be seen as totally wrong. But here I can visit and learn about it with no problem." The children participated in meditation as well. We hope all of them have learned something about religious tolerance and even about respectful interfaith dialogue!

     After lunch we set up for the performance, but soon we were invited to sit down in front row seats while THEY performed for US. We saw several different dances including the Lion dance and Dragon dance, and Taiwanese drumming as well. The audience of about 500 packed into the room, stood by the walls, sat on the floor, and made a lot of very appreciative noise. At some points it sounded more like a basketball game than a dance performance from the way they whooped and whistled. Children of Uganda performed after the intermission and I couldn't imagine a more supportive audience. At the end the COU kids were each given gift baskets, hand-written cards from kindergarteners (with greetings in Luganda!), and roses. By the time we loaded our things back onto the bus they'd laden us down with boxes of snacks, blankets, jackets, sweaters, and I don't even know what else. Their students came onto our bus for a final goodbye and I do believe I saw some tears as they exchanged hugs.

     We're headed home now to our homestay families, most of whom have lamented how little time they get to spend with their guests. We've reconfigured the schedule to allow them another meal together on Thursday and a free day with no commitments but recreation on Saturday. This morning we left at 7 AM, no one's favorite time, but my host family's twin 10-year-olds stumbled sleepy-headed out to the breakfast table so they could get some extra time with their guests.

     On Children of Uganda's 2006 tour we went to big professional theaters and stayed in hotels. I will admit that a theater *might* make us twice as much money as a school, and that when you stay in hotels you are subject to no one's lateness but your own. But in my personal opinion, that money couldn't possibly be worth as much as the bedheaded good-mornings and tearful good-byes.

Pictures and video to come soon!

Getting ready for tour

There are so many things to do to get ready for tour. Here in Uganda we are feverishly working, to make sure everything gets done in time for our Saturday departure. Last night we weighed our luggage trying to avoid over-weight luggage fees at the airport. Tomorrow is our show at the national theater. Not to mention rehearsing, rehearsing, rehearsing!

Here are some pictures of the various activities we've been through while we get ready.

Girls wear beads on their necks, waists, and wrists. Each is responsible for making her own set.

Boys wear headdresses for the Ntoore dance; they are each responsible for sewing beads on to decorate the headdresses.

By now we are rehearsing with a sound system, but last week Winnie was practicing her solo with a make-believe microphone.

All the girls had to have their hair braided -- some for the first time ever!

Great patience is required.

Anxiously waiting at the doctor's office for the pre-trip checkup.

At the pottery shop, the potter demonstrated how strong the pots are by hitting one sharply on the floor.

The girls have to get used to what it feels like to dance balancing pots, with a new (more slippery) hairstyle!

The plan for the next few days includes our final show, more rehearsing, last-minute shopping, packing, and traveling to the airport! We look forward to seeing you in America.

Tour of Light National Theater Performance

Children of Uganda’s Tour of Light music and dance troupe will be performing on Wednesday, January 4^th 2012 from 2-4 p.m. at the National Theater in Kampala, Uganda.  This will be the troupe's final send-off show before departing their country and arriving in San Francisco, CA on January 8^th to kick off their tour of the United States.  Our troupe members - children aged 10-18 - have been rehearsing fervently over the past month in preparation for the tour.  They cannot wait to share Uganda and East Africa's vibrant culture with American audiences.  Lucky for them and you, nobody has to wait much longer!

Stay tuned for a detailed 2012 Tour of Light schedule

Thank you to the SF dance community!

A group of professional dancers from Bay Area companies came together this fall to support Children of Uganda. They organized a great fundraiser at Fort Mason Center, which featured music, three pas de deux, and this new movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwNsBf-Bxss&feature=share

Two dancers write about their experiences: 

Courtney Elizabeth: As a dancer, I love what I do.  You will probably never meet a dancer who is not passionate about the art form.  However, there have been many times in the past when I’ve struggled with the practicality and meaningfulness of being a dancer. I mean, I could be digging wells in Africa, building homes and shelters in Japan, or feeding the homeless here in SF.

            A few months ago, I had never even heard of the organization Children of Uganda.  A friend just happened to say, “Did you hear about this group of children that are coming to the Bay Area?  Oh yeah—they’re orphans.  From Africa.”  I wanted to learn more, so I went online and I was able to watch videos of these young children learning traditional Ugandan dance and music. 

            I was moved, and I instantly wanted to get involved.  Several of us at the Ballet decided to work together to help in the best way we know how: by dancing.  We were inspired to use our talents to organize a benefit performance for the Children of Uganda.

            Seeing those kids dance with so much joy in the midst of brokenness and pain made me feel the power of making something beautiful, and it showed me that on some level, that’s what we’re doing here at SFB: creating beauty in the crazy ups and downs of life. Watching those kids was really important to me...who am I to say that it isn’t equally as important to everyone sitting in the audience?

            Frances Chung: For me, helping this organization was a no-brainer.  It’s always hard for me to decide who and how to help others, but I felt an instant kinship with COU because of dance.  With art, all language and cultural barriers fall away—there’s a universal connection.  And I think that’s why so many dancers have rallied around this cause.  Most dancers are passionate about helping others in different ways, but everyone feels a bond with this organization through their art.

            It’s been especially meaningful for me to get involved because I’m a strong believer in the healing qualities/properties of movement.  My college senior project was a study of how movement therapy helped and rehabilitated battered women, and so it was really beautiful to me find that these orphans were also being healed, rehabilitated, and educated through dance.

            As we have embarked on this enormous task of organizing a benefit performance, I have a whole newfound appreciation for everyone who works behind the scenes at SFB. There is SO much thought, creativity, planning, and hard work that goes into putting on just one show.  From marketing and publicity, to development and fundraising, to finding a venue and creating choreography, we have all learned so much, particularly the importance of delegating.  Over and over again, I’ve been impressed with how many people are willing to give of their time, resources, and talents for a worthy cause

THANK YOU to Courtney, Frances, and so many others who made the event such a success! We raised over $20,000 for Children of Uganda at this one event.