Dance-spiration in Gulu

I got to sit down with my dancer friend, Eric, to ask him some questions about his hip-hop project and his own dance experience. Eric organizes a dance competition twice a year for youth in Gulu. He helps crews with their choreography and runs an after-school program at TAKS (Through Art Keep Smiling) Centre, where students can learn hip-hop and breakdancing (refer to my earlier blog for my late discovery of this program). He also choreographs and dances for R&B singer O.J. Maxwell and teaches yoga at the Mandala House. You can follow his competition and crew, Da Solid Team, on Facebook or at dasolidteam.blogspot.com.

How did you start dancing?

I can’t trace back how I began dancing. With dancing, I don’t remember the age, but I remember we used to dance at home, me and the neighbors. We used to dance when we had parties. When they put music on, they want the children to compete and they put up sweets for the winner. I was around 7 to 10. 

We used to go to a place around there, called Diana Gardens. They used to put up a competition around Independence Day and Christmas day. That was just for fun. [I started] serious dancing in 2009 when I first joined a crew, Tosha Dancers. By the end of 2010, I left Tosha. When I left, the crew collapsed and they all had to follow me to TAKS center. In 2011, we had already left, but we were still using the name Tosha. We had qualified for a competition in Kampala, Uganda’s Best Dance Crew. We were an entertainment crew. We had singers, producers, and dancers. We wanted to change our name, but because of the competition we had to keep the name. 

It took almost a year and half to get a place. The other places wanted to charge us a lot of money. But with TAKS, it was easy. The guy was really great, maybe because of his passion for dance. Everyone was discouraged and we almost had to cancel the competition because we didn’t have a place to practice. I went to TAKS, and I was so hungry, like really hungry. I had been traveling all day. But the guy was so excited. He wanted to see what we could do. I wasn’t even hungry anymore! I called all the guys to come show him. The way everyone danced, we were so excited! 

By the end of 2011, that’s when I had issues with the group. We were moving along well, but our former manager was trying to get them away from me. Young people can be easily manipulated money. He would take them away to perform without telling me. Our last show was on the 31^st at night. I was having issues with one of the guys who wanted to lead. He was too much for me and I couldn’t bear it, so I left the group. By the end of 2012, the crew collapsed. In 2012, around February, I started looking for guys to train and that’s when I started thinking about Da Solid Team. I wanted something fresh and new. I started teaching them some choreography. By April, they were really strong. We did our first performance at the Back to School show. Everyone was so excited. They were saying, “That is Eric’s crew! It’s Eric’s crew!” After the performance, people from Tosha started coming back, one by one. 

Even the guy that I had trouble with wanted to come back. The other guys didn’t want to let him in; but in life, you have to keep your enemies closer. If you don’t like him, keep him closer because he has skills that we need. Then the same thing happened. The manager started taking the guys away. I eventually wanted to quit. Then I realized that I would be better with not just one crew, but leading multiple crews. That’s when I got the idea for the competition. It was around April when I got the deal for choreographing for OJ Maxwell. In 2012, that’s when I designed the competition. We had it in May.

Teaching yoga at the Mandala House, where I met him

How has dance helped you?

One of the biggest things that dance has done with my life is to help me realize that I could do more, other than just being a dancer. I could use dance to do a lot of things: using dance to bring the youth together. That’s one way of fighting idleness, promoting talent, and exercising talent. It’s a platform for promoting peace and sensitizing the youth on some of the social issues (sometimes we do some drama in between our choreography). Dance has also helped me to come up with the idea of the dance competition, and that’s one my biggest achievements. Before the competition, we used to do battles every Friday. Then we started doing a once a month event where people would come and pay to watch. Dance has helped expose me to a lot of other things, opening my mind to think broadly.

What is your favorite style?

It’s tricky because I don’t like just a particular part of dance. I want to learn every type of dance. And whatever type of learn, I really love it because I enjoy it when I’m doing it. I like freestyle, but I like choreography more. With freestyle, you teach yourself. With choreography, you have to teach and learn from other people. With freestyle, it doesn’t bring a lot of people together. There’s no accountability. I want to create groups, to make everyone believe they can dance.

What are your goals for the future of Da Solid Team?

I just need to keep it simple. My focus is basically on the disadvantaged youth of the society. My main goal is to help them excel in confidence, academically, socially, and economically. Dance is really special. It can give you the confidence to do a lot of things. You get to come together with a lot of people. That alone gives you confidence. Even when you go back to school, you are still that strong person. Even employment through entertainment. The competition alone has employed some of the youth. The prize money is one of the biggest prizes that has been put up for a competition in Gulu (2M UGS, or $800 USD). When we first started advertising, people didn’t believe that we would really give out 2M. They were so excited!

How do you get money for your competition?

I also dance and choreograph for O.J. Maxwell, an R&B singer based in Gulu. His manager is from here but lives in the Netherlands and has a very big vision of helping people from home, people with talents in music and dance. When I drew the concept of the competition, I showed it to him, and he was very impressed. He said he could help with the money. It’s all about promoting talent. He’s promised to keep sponsoring the competition as long as it’s good.

What are your objectives for Da Solid Team?

·        Dance as a talent: People have not focused on developing it in this region. I want to nurture the talent, especially for those from disadvantaged families.
·        Employment through entertainment
·        Dance as a tool to fight idleness and crime
·        Source of information: dance as a platform for sensitizing the youth about HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, and all social issues
·        Help the youth to learn to face challenges, inspire and motivate them to face challenges in life. Just imagine the battles and competition. It breeds a lot of tension, but at the end they realize that it takes some struggling to face challenges. At first, people weren’t so serious when they were practicing. But then during the competition, they realized that they could’ve worked harder. Now I hear them saying, “Next competition, we’re going to kill it!”

Eric wants to “let the world see what’s happening in Gulu.” He wants to gain exposure for his dancers and make connections with other teams, in Uganda and abroad. Most of the dance scene in Uganda is in Kampala, so it’s very difficult for them to get support and encouragement.

Once his team grows large enough, he wants to begin programs within local schools. They will visit schools, teach dance classes, encourage students to form groups, and host a dance competition within the school. However, for Da Solid Team to grow and expand to more of Gulu’s youth, they are in need of dance attire/costumes, mirrors, and a sound system. In the long term, they will also need their own space to practice. Eric is personally praying for a laptop, so he can promote his project on YouTube and connect with other teams.

We discussed some ways to help them out, including a Kickstarter or other type of fundraiser and getting connected with teams from the US. If you would like to stay updated on our progress or have any ideas to accomplish these goals, enter your email address here.

Nearing the End

It’s a cruel truth that you don’t really appreciate a place until you leave it. I never loved California so much as when I moved to Boston. I always forget how unique Boston is until I leave for the summer. Likewise, as I think about leaving this place, the beauty of Gulu becomes more vivid; the people seem more friendly; and I look back on my experience here with rose-tinted glasses. I often forget that I'm living in Africa. Everything seems so normal. Thinking about visiting Africa as a child, I pictured a vastly different world that would be near impossible to live in. On the contrary, I feel I've been a bit spoiled. I've had access to the internet, good food to eat, a clean and safe house, and many new friends.

As I think about heading home, the question of 'adjusting back to 1st world culture' inevitably comes up. While definitely a valid concern and one that I've faced before, I believe I've grown accustomed to the transition. All the moving around that I've done has made me realize the similarities between us all as humans. It no longer feels like I’m stepping into a completely different world when I go to Africa or return to the US or travel elsewhere. It is merely a new experience in the continuous spectrum of humanity. I've been blessed to travel to many different countries and cultures. I have seen the best and I have seen the worst—figuratively speaking, of course. Sometimes what I expect to be the worst turns out to be the best and vice versa. I think we underrate ourselves and our ability to adapt. We often think 'If I don't have this or have to spend more than a week without that, I won't survive!' Melodramatic as it is, we sometimes genuinely feel that our happiness is tied to things and places. We don't realize that we were made much stronger than we realize. It isn't until we step out of our comfort zone that we realize the masterpiece that is us. Our Creator knew what He was doing. He doesn't make mistakes. We are "fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:14) He made us strong, flexible, and resilient. It's merely by exercising these qualities that we realize them in ourselves.

The past week was full of amazing experiences.

Believe it or not,
that's the moon.

I spent the night at the center on Tuesday. After we usually leave for the day, the girls get to work—drawing water from the well, bathing their children, and cleaning the grounds and their huts. After dinner, we came together for prayers, singing, and dancing. As the insects continued buzzing in the background, the girls lifted their beautiful voices to God. The drums played as the universe opened up above us. The glow worms (fireflies) flashed in the bushes, and the stars above were like nothing I've ever seen before. Absolute beauty. How could you not see God in this place? After a few songs, they brought out the callabash and began dancing. Even after a long day, they were full of energy and joy. Their feet never stop moving! I just sat there and took it all in, marveling at my Creator, who loves me enough to make stars and dance and fireflies for me to enjoy. He delights in His creation, and He delights in delighting us! In the morning, the girls brought me chapatti, hard-boiled eggs, and tea. Then I had the first hot shower since I've been here! Well… hot water in a bucket. But still, it felt incredible!

My hut room

Blessing, trying to read
my book

On Friday, I taught Contemporary at TAKS. Eric had asked me to teach some contemp or modern to his hip hop dancers, so I made an easy combo for them to have fun with. They were too good though! They picked up the choreography quickly and were eager to learn first position, chaînés  and rond de jambes. It felt amazing to dance again and even better to see the kids finding joy through dance as well. Most of the class was male, but that didn't matter. They tried to get the “feel” of the piece and didn't hold anything back. Immediately after class, they switched gears and began practicing their dance hall set.

I also started a new test this week that I will continue with the girls who have graduated the center on Friday. Again, usually computerized in the modern day, I used a block of wood, funnels, and clothes hangers to make this one (with the help of Gary). It's called the Tower of Hanoi, a century-old mathematical problem based on an ancient legend... and a convenient test of problem solving abilities. It can be quite difficult, depending on how many disks are used. Most of the staff even wanted to try, adding more disks when they mastered the previous level. I didn't have enough disks of different sizes, so Winnie poked a hole in a bottle cap to add to the challenge. You can try the online version here.

As I come to the end of my trip, my blog is also nearing an end. If you have any questions that you would like me to answer in my last couple posts, feel free to post them in the comments, FB message me, or email me.

Finally, I heard that some people are having trouble posting comments on my blog. If you would like to comment, click on the title of the blog if you’re on the home page, type your comment at the bottom, select ‘Anonymous’ if you don’t have one of the available IDs, and click ‘Publish’.

Seeking A Life of Faith

Talk is beginning about my return home. While I'm ready to be rid of the bugs, dirt, and inability to blend in anywhere, I'll certainly miss this place. Where else can you strike up a conversation with a total stranger, who will then drop whatever she is doing and share her story? Through the ups and downs, I have tried my best to appreciate this experience for what it has given me. As always, it seems like I always take away so much more than I can give. The lessons that I've learned here are, I'm sure, more than I can currently comprehend.

In the spirit of staying honest:

I have struggled with the feeling that I'm not accomplishing anything here. I don't see my impact and feel guilty for not loving more. But I am learning to have faith in God's higher plan. I have always quoted Jeremiah 29:11 as my favorite/life verse. I wear a ring that has "For I know the plans I have for you" engraved on it, given to me by one of my best friends. Yet I still fail to fathom what it truly means. God's viewpoint is incomprehensibly larger than mine. While I can't yet see it, I just have to pray and have faith that God is using me in some way that I don't recognize.

I also pray that I will be able to bring this mindset home, that I will live by faith in all that I do. I just finished reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. He observes,

"We say things like 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,' and 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart.' Then we live and plan like we don't believe God even exists. We try to set our lives up so everything will be fine even if God doesn't come through. But true faith means holding nothing back. It means putting every hope in God's fidelity to His promises... Jesus said, 'If you love me, you will obey what I command' (John 14:15). Jesus did not say, 'If you love me you will obey me when you feel called or good about doing so...' If we love, then we obey. Period. This sort of matter-of-fact obedience is part of what it means to live a life of faith."

I have often lived like this. I meticulously plan and try to control my life. Even here, much of my frustration has stemmed from my inability to control my situation. I claim to have faith but often I only rely on my own plans, giving God only the least significant aspects of my life. Faith in God means not having a back-up. It is knowing that if God doesn't show up, I will fail. Unfortunately, I have not learned this lesson out of my own incredible show of faith. Instead, I have been forced to learn it by my lack thereof. I asked God to show up and work through me on this trip, but I didn't really know what I was requesting. God has a funny sense of humor sometimes. He seems to have said, "Okay, my child, but we're going to do this my way." I envisioned incredible adventures and lifelong friendships that would strengthen my relationship with God. While I have been blessed with both of these, that is not how God has worked on me. He has taught me through suffering, doubt, and loneliness. Even separated from everyone I know by half the globe, I was not far enough from my safe and stubborn lifestyle to hear His voice. So He brought me to a position where I had to cry out to Him. I had to rely on Him. From this place, He is teaching me about my true nature, about my weaknesses and need for His strength, and about how I view other people. His peace is beginning to take hold in my heart, a more permanent hold than I think would come from a giddy, excitement-filled, no-worries summer.

I see people living by faith all around me. People who know that if God doesn't come through, they will be in serious trouble. They live on little but are full on God. They don't worry about holding anything back for themselves. They know that the more they give, the more God will provide. I have had the privilege to work with some of these people.

Winnie, my supervisor and friend, has shown this kind of unselfish love in her own life. She welcomes in the women with open arms and a full heart. She truly listens to their worries and pain and befriends them. She treats them like equals and is sensitive to their individual personalities and limits. She learns their stories so that she can deeply know each of them, even after they have left the Center. She's even giving up her own desire for higher education to give her children the opportunity to go to college. She loves deeply without holding anything back.

Winnie held elections for student representatives on Wednesday. Among the positions: head girl, entertainment director, and health prefect. Each staff member had a role. I was given the title, "Photographer." The ceremony opened with words from the ceremony director. Then Winnie led the girls in the singing of the national anthem. After all votes were cast, the staff discussed the results and even had some of the girls show their "skills" for the Entertainment position.

Mzee, assigned to Security, stood guard

My new friends, Kaylee and Katrina, joined me for yoga. I have been missing dance, so yoga has been a great taste of home. The Mandala House uses yoga to bring healing to those traumatized by the war. They train locals to be teachers and to aid in the healing process. Read about George, my teacher and friend, on the MH website.

Aside from the chappati, gonja, and sim sim, I'm a little obsessed with the fabrics here. The patterns are beautiful, and they can make pretty much anything! So I had a quilt made for my bed. Florence, a seamstress in Gulu, finished it in only a few days. Indecisive as usual, I kept asking for her opinion on which materials went well together. She was scared to offer her thoughts in case I didn't end up liking it. Haha. I think it turned out pretty well though. :)

I had fun taking some nature shots at the center:

More pretty caterpillars

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood...
or green jungle

I think the chicken knows
what's coming

“O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, ‘Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.’ Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.” –A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

A New Level

I apologize for the lack of posts. I went through a difficult time emotionally and physically. After a week of stubbornly suffering, I finally took the antibiotic that I brought as a precaution. It seems to have done the trick. Additionally, I temporarily misplaced my camera charger and just found it. But alas, I am posting.

Since I've been here, I've tasted many new foods (some of which did not agree with my stomach), discovered new ways of doing things (like riding a boda sidesaddle), and argued over the meanings and connotations of many words (apparently, escort means something different here). I have heard foreign languages and learned how people live in a way very different than I am used to. I have laughed about the strange behaviors of the Ugandan people and been laughed at for my own first-world quirks. There are many differences between my temporary home here and my US homes.

But more than anything, I'm amazed by how very alike we all are. All over the world, in different cultures and places, we all possess the same needs and desires and worries. We are all human. We are temporarily lost when the power and internet goes out (though Ugandans are admittedly much better at coping than I). We have irrational fears of small creatures (me- of the flying bugs and spiders, Ugandans- of frogs and caterpillars). We feel lost without our cell phones. We cheer for sports teams and wear their jerseys. We sit in coffee shops to mooch on the free wifi. We have earthquakes. We complain about unfamiliar food and gas prices. We make fun of celebrities. We have ice cream trucks. We can't function without our morning coffee or tea (and add way too much sugar). We watch movies. We hold hands. We do yoga. We find a family in our friends. We find strength in community. We have families and jobs and worries. We don't know how to treat those who look different than us. We aspire to be something greater. We dislike change. We don't notice the beauty that surrounds us. And above all, we are incredibly resilient.

The kids watching as the IV team
says their goodbyes

Given the nature of my research, I have been able to read many of the girls' stories. It's difficult to believe what these women have been through. And yet, their smiles are big and beautiful. They care for their children with a love that they were never shown. Jesus is transforming their lives and making something beautiful out of what the devil tried to destroy. I also had the opportunity to interview some of the girls about the IV team's visit. Many of them noted that their faith was strengthened, and I can see for myself that they are more relaxed and filled with joy. [Thank you to all of the IV and Focus interns for the incredible impact you've made on these girls and their children!]

As I mentioned, I went through a period of doubt and pessimism. I honestly can't say I'm completely out of it, but through it God has been teaching me some lessons that I need to learn. So as opposed to my normal cheery blog disposition, I'm going to be honest. It has been lonely here. As the only intern, I have been forced to explore on my own and fill my time with less social activities than I'm used to. In a way, it has forced me to step out of my comfort zone.. which is good. But in another way, it has led to feelings of loneliness and left me devoid of some much-needed venting. I've also struggled with how women are treated here (both Ugandan women and mzungus). Hearing the girls stories and seeing with my own eyes how some men behave has made me angry at times. I've been angry at myself, as well, for my self-centeredness and lack of compassion. Despite how wonderful everyone at CVI has been to me, I have struggled loving these people as much as I want to. But I'm realizing that this may not be a failure of my capacity for love, but rather God showing me my true nature. God is throwing me in these more trying situations to reveal that the love and compassion by which I have defined myself don't come from me at all. They are merely reflections of God's love. And the dusty roads of Uganda make it difficult to keep my heart's mirror clean. Or rather, they reveal that it isn't clean to begin with.

Peace and Me

I recently read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis (a book I highly recommend to Christians and non-Christians alike). Lewis, in explaining why it is sometimes painful when we submit to God, says, "God is forcing him on, or up, to a higher level: putting him into situations where he will have to be very much braver, or more patient, or more loving, than he ever dreamed of being before. It seems to us unnecessary: but that is because we have not yet had the slightest notion of the tremendous things He means to make of us." In explaining my feelings to a close friend and sister in Christ, I told her, "Sometimes I feel that I'm falling back in a way. That my struggle in loving these people and being unselfish is a sign that I'm not as strong or 'in God' as I used to be. But now I'm realizing, that's because in previous situations, it was easier to love and serve. Now, God is putting me in more challenging situations to show me that the love and service I had attributed to myself are not my nature at all. They are His shining through me. So now I need, even more, to give it up to Him and allow Him to do the same. That it isn't me 'losing' those qualities. They were never mine in the first place. That's a lot less pressure, to realize that I can't 'increase' my love on my own. I just have to give it up to God."

Eric teaching me how
to breakdance

Fortunately, God is also answering my prayers in regard to my loneliness. I met my new friend, Eric, at yoga. He was doing some yoga/breakdancing moves, which led to a conversation about dance. He dances with a crew here in Gulu and organizes a bi-annual dance competition for crews in the area. He also teaches kids the basics of hip hop in an after-school program and invited me to check it out. How could I resist that?!

I went the next day and found the room full with kids learning tutting, breaking, and dance hall. I joined in, to the very confused looks of everyone in the room. Several of the guys wanted to learn 'my kind of dance', so I gave them a quick lesson in the basics of ballet. ("Why no 3rd position?" lol) It was inspiring to see young men and women working their bodies and spirits through dance. I only wish I had learned of this program sooner.

Work it, dance hall!

Teaching Eric ballet

I also met a couple of girls from Orange County through a contact of my dad's. Katrina and Kaylee work with Remnant International, an organization that teaches women screen printing and sewing to free them from human trafficking and prostitution. Check out their website. They have some awesome products for a worthy cause! Also, Kaylee is a Theta, which of course makes her even more awesome! :)

That's all for now, but I promise (power permitting) to update more often for my remaining 3.5 weeks!

Daniel is a Pats fan,
of course

These creepy (and giant) vulture-like birds
were EVERYWHERE the other day

I asked for my coffee "to go"
... this is what I got

Jaja Susie (from IV) teaching the
girls to make cinnamon rolls

Cinnamon Rolls!

Tanning by the pool at the Acholi Inn, a
luxury I NEVER thought I'd have here

Cassava and Odin

Silly faces

Always wanting to play with my camera

He can go from crying to smiling
and back in 0.5 seconds