LLast January, while most college students were relaxingon winter break, a group of 15 dancers from New YorkUniversity traveled to Kampala, Uganda, where theyspent 16 days at Makerere University. Jenny Thompson,a former Dance Spirit intern and recent NYU graduatewith a BA in dance studies, choreography and writingabout performance (a self-designed major), was a seniorat the time and the only undergraduate to participate inthe annual trip. Jenny jumped at the chance to studyabroad and work in a setting related to her major. For aweek, the NYU students partnered with dance, dramaand music students from Makerere University to teacheach other traditional Ugandan dance and Western

modern dance. The partners also created lessonplans, and during the second week, the collegestudents taught children from local organiza-tions. At the end of their trip, the NYU studentsgave a public performance with the Makererestudents and the Ugandan children at Uganda’sNational Theatre. Jenny documented her inter-national adventure for DS. —Katie Rolnick

FRIDAY, JANUARY 1I just settled in for a flight from NYC to London.From there, I’ll fly to Kampala, Uganda. After allthe preparations—applying for a visa, getting siximmunization shots, buying malaria medication

that I’ll take every day and stuffing my suitcase with clothes,books and gifts to donate to the Ugandan children I’ll beteaching—I can’t believe I’m finally on the plane to Africa!

DANCER’S DIARYdancer to dancer

24 | JANUARY 2011 | dancespirit.com

Cultural A COLLEGE DANCE STUDENT’SONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME TRIP TOUGANDA By Jenny Thompson

(Above) Jenny leading amovement exercise;

(Right) Jenny (secondfrom right) and other

NYU students on a boatride at the source of theNile River; (Left) Jenny

at the equator

NYU and Makerere University students performingthe Gaze at the Uganda National Theatre

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CulturalCollaborations

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2I arrived in Kampala, where I met up withthe 14 other NYU students and our directors,Deborah Damast and Jenny Brown. For thefirst week, we’re staying at the MakerereUniversity Guest House. Our rooms havebeds with mosquito nets to protect us fromthe malaria-carrying insects. And whenwe shower, we have to be careful not toget any of the water, which contains unsafebacteria, in our mouths.

MONDAY, JANUARY 4This morning, coated in bug spray, wewalked to the administration building onMakerere’s campus, where we’ll be danc-ing this week. To begin the day, one of theMakerere University professors taughtus a Western Ugandan dance called theKizino (chi-zi-no), which is performedat joyous occasions. It’s packed with stomp-ing, clapping, jumping and singing, andrequires a lot of energy. By the end, wewere all sweating like crazy!

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6The second dance we’re learning for ourbig performance next Friday is the Gaze(ga-zay), a common children’s dance inUganda. The Gaze’s mood is completelydifferent from the Kizino because it’s usu-ally performed by kids and is therefore verysilly. Our Ugandan teacher, Herbert, led usthrough six of the movement sequencesand songs.

After that, Deb taught the students fromMakerere University her modern work,Ankole Modern. Deb’s piece is inspired bythe Ugandan Ankole cow dance, duringwhich a performer holds her slightly bentarms above her head to emulate the Ankolecow’s horns. The Ugandan students wereeager to learn Deb’s interpretation and caughton quickly.

MONDAY, JANUARY 11A couple nights ago, we moved into the FangFang Hotel for the second half of our trip,since it’s closer to the Queen’s Ballet Schoolwhere we’re teaching this week. We’re work-ing with about 40 students who range in agefrom 5 to 16 years old and have all differentskill levels. Some are students at the balletschool and others are from the Life in Africa,Heritage Roots and In Movement organiza-tions in Uganda. These organizations workmostly with orphans or kids who have grownup in difficult circumstances. I assisted intwo classes this morning, dancing with theshy children and encouraging them to learnthe dances they’ll be performing at the endof the week.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13Today was my group’s teaching day! Lastweek, I was matched with two other teach-ers: Kate, an NYU graduate student in danceeducation, and Phionah, a Makerere student.We decided to use an instrumental hip-hopsong for our performance piece. Phionah saidthe kids are interested in hip-hop music anddance because they don’t have easy accessto them—and she was right. Their faces litup when we played the music.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15At 9 am we went to the National Theatre, andalthough the kids were bouncing off the walls,we managed to squeeze in two run-throughs

before people started to fill the auditoriumfor tonight’s performance.

We fed off of the kids’ excitement andenergy throughout the show, which seemedto fly by. In the final number the NYU andMakerere students performed the Kizinotogether. Though I’ve been dancing andperforming for 16 years, I’d never felt thejoy and solidarity I felt during this number.By the end I could barely breathe, but wekept dancing as some of our phenomenalUgandan teachers moved into the center.The audience roared!

After the show, we presented each organ-ization with the donations and gifts we hadpacked (including some “I NY” T-shirts).It’s hard to say good-bye to these kids.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 17It feels like I’ve been here for much longerthan 16 days. The thought of not wakingup in my mosquito-net-covered bed anddancing with the Ugandan students breaksmy heart.

On the plane, I looked out the windowfor my last glimpse of Africa—for now. Iam going to miss the incredible people Imet here. And I’ll especially miss their pas-sion for dance. In Uganda, dance is vital.It’s community. Being here has made merealize how important it is to promote danceas a way to connect people. It’s a messageI hope to share back in the States.

DANCER’S DIARYdancer to dancer

26 | JANUARY 2011 | dancespirit.com

Jenny and the other NYU students take a drumming lesson Jenny and the other NYU students take a drumming lesson.

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Jenny teachingUgandan studentsa hip hop combination

Jenny teachingUgandan studentsa hip-hop combination

The Makerere University students performingat a welcome dinner for the NYU studentsThe Makerere University students performingat a welcome dinner for the NYU students

Students in Kampalalearning a dance

Students in Kampalalearning a dance

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