Taye Diggs and Andrew Palermo dre.dance company, the Juilliard School, Reggie Wilson/Fist and Heel Performance Group and other select New York City-based dance companies to perform at NYC Benefit Show

The visionary and founder behind the Ugandan school is Sylvia Nagginda, the Nnabagereka, Queen of the Buganda Kingdom—the largest of the four Ugandan Kingdoms. The Nnabagereka has been a committed champion of culture, dance and the arts, and the key role they can play in developing confidence and building cultural bridges for young adults within the country and across national borders. Her school is based in Uganda’s capital, Kampala.

While several professional dance studios exist that have enabled dancers to compete in the global market of Afro-fusion dance, the Kampala Ballet and Modern Dance School (KBMDS), is the first dance studio in all of Sub-Saharan Africa to have been founded by an African and the only school of its kind in Uganda.

Just over a year old, the school already boasts some remarkable achievements. Last year it served over 400 Kampala residents. It offers distinct school programs, holiday programs, and extended programs in addition to an adult dance program. Through the Benefit Concerts, the School is seeking support to expand the scope of its outreach efforts. Specifically, funds are critically needed to offer:

(1) An extension program in which instructors will offer free dance classes to children in the public schools
(2) A program of dance education for Ugandans living with HIV/AIDS through The AIDS Support Organization (TASO)
(3) A class series at the Kampala School for the Physically Disabled

In September 2005, KBDS visited New York City and met a number of dance institutions including, the Alvin Ailey School, The Juilliard School, the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Complexions, New York University, and Ballet Tech. These organizations expressed a willingness to explore faculty exchanges, company tours, and workshops in Uganda. Everyone involved shared a strong interest in contributing to a series of Benefit Concerts to raise funds for the school in Uganda.

On March 3rd and 4th The Nnabagereka, founder of KBMDS, will be in attendance to mark the first of these evenings of cultural expression, art, and good-will to benefit the Uganda school. The shows will take place at the beautiful Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College on 58th Street and 10th Avenue, New York.

Following the Saturday evening performance, a champagne reception with the Nnabagereka and a “Dance with the Dancers” will be hosted at Sortie at 329 West 51st between 8th and 9th Avenues. Tickets for the show are 25$. VIP tickets that include entry to Saturday’s show and after-party,
hors d’oeuvres, a champagne toast, and dancing are $55.

Tickets to the Uganda Arts Outreach Benefit may be purchased at 1-800-838-3006, at www.ugandaarts.org, or at the door on the day of the performance. All profits from the show will go toward the school’s outreach efforts.

This production is hosted by Uganda Arts Outreach, Inc. and is made possible, in part, through the sponsorship of The Field. Contributions to KBMDS through Uganda Arts Outreach, Inc. are tax-deductible and should be made payable to The Field.