The maestro's waltz comes to an end
Feb 09, 2012
“Christopher Kato was as solitary in ballroom dance as Shakespeare in literature. He was a striking dancer and trainer, exuding an outrageous dynamism too hot for some of us to handle.
By Elvis Basudde
“Christopher Kato was as solitary in ballroom dance as Shakespeare in literature. He was a striking dancer and trainer, exuding an outrageous dynamism too hot for some of us to handle.
We did not know a thing about ballroom dance but now we can compete in an international competition,” said Willy Shampkl, an Italian former student of late Kato and one of the mourners at Kato’s funeral on Sunday at Butera village, Wakiso District.
Grant, a Swedish national, who was also trained by Kato says the deceased had a big mouth but spoke sense.
“The things he yelled at me during one of his waltz classes hit me but they worked. He exhibited lightning speed, flashpoints wrapped in smooth style and smouldering sensuality.”
Josephine from Kenya, had this to say of Kato: “His ‘children’, as he called his students, listened to him, loved him and learnt from him. He loved them too, and loved to see them go out and become stars.”
Moses Matovu of Afrigo Band says Kato performed to a huge audience on the very first Independence Day celebrations (October 9, 1962).
“His name could hardly be missed out when one mentioned ballroom dancing in Uganda,” Matovu adds.
There were befitting descriptions from mourners at Kato’s funeral who thronged Butera village to bid farewell to the ballroom wizard who passed away at the age of 89.
Unlike younger contemporary counterparts in other areas of music, dance and drama, Kato lived a less glamorous life. Maybe ballroom was not as lucrative or as appreciated. Yet he trudged on even at a very advanced stage.
Kato held his last show two years ago at the National Theatre on October 9. He was retiring after 60 years of a unique entertainment career.
“I feel I must retire now. I am 87 years old. I am going to concentrate on training students in schools and institutions. The many young men and women I have introduced to ballroom dancing can now take over,” Kato announced.
Though he had retired from active dancing, he was still the undisputed champion of ballroom dance in east and Central Africa, a title he won in the 1960s after going head to head with some of the greatest local and international professional dancers.
He boasted of personal acquaintances with famous champion, Lichang Paul, from
South Africa who was number one in the world dancing competition in the 1970s and who also beat Ray Williams, a renowned ballroom dancer from the US.
Seeing Kato on the dance floor, even at 87, you would think the old man was made of rubber.
He could twist his body without strain leaving everybody amazed. His peers referred to him as the king of dance.
Kato had graced the dance floor since 1944 presenting the most exciting dances, a thing that earned him a reputation as the greatest entertainer of our time.
It is hard to be a master of all but Kato had mastered over 10 ballroom dances including waltz, rumba, Rock “n” Roll, Jive, the Fox Trot, Quickstep and twist.
Kato loved cowboy films which also had dancing scenes. He admired the dancers in the films and he started imitating them. It did not take him long to master their dance moves.
Kato had stationed himself at the Uganda German Cultural Society on Nakasero road, where he had put up a training school. His students were mainly foreigners.
Mike Smith, a former student described him as one of the most skilled trainers in ballroom dance he has ever met. Kato made it big, in spite of his humble education.
FactFile
Born in Kampala in 1930.
On the dance floor since 1944.
Popularised Ballroom dance in Uganda.
Undisputable champion of ballroom dance in East and Central Africa.
Started a ballroom dancing school.
Rubbed shoulders with international professional dancers
Danced on the streets, at Kamuru Night Club in Mengo and joined Rhino Band
Took part in a dancing competition in the US
Trained at Alex Moore School of Dancers in the US