Children with disabilities: "We are just like you, we have dreams and talents too."

Aug 15, 2016

The performances were highlighted by an Indian dance by Macline Kembabazi, a young girl with a hearing impairment moving in tune with the music, routine dances by the Ntinda School for the Deaf, Salama School for the Deaf and Wakiso School for the Deaf.

Children with disabilities: "We are just like you, we have dreams and talents too."

By Solomon Kalema

In a bid to showcase their talent in dance, poetry and music, a cross-section of children with disabilities took to the National Theatre on Saturday with a series of crowd-moving performances in a show dubbed ‘Unseen Dreams'.

The performances were preceded by a note from Babara Kemigisa Katabazi, an HIV-positive young woman who has dedicated her energy to promoting the correct use of anti-retrovirals.

We have to go on. I am an HIV-positive person with an HIV-negative partner and a passion to see that HIV ends with our generation. My husband and I are expecting an HIV-negative baby thanks to the pills," she said.

Kemigisa's speech set the stage for the well-choreographed pieces from children who are visually and hearing impaired, survivors of acid attacks and former street children.

The performances were highlighted by an Indian dance by Macline Kembabazi, a young girl with a hearing impairment moving in tune with the music, routine dances by the Ntinda School for the Deaf, Salama School for the Deaf and Wakiso School for the Deaf.

The audience was largely amazed by how the routines by these groups kept up with the beat.

 

A triad of performers, Hindu, Joan and Walter also had a unique style of poetry which did not have words, but spoke volumes with the expressions and movements that the crowd could identify with.

Brovin Kato and Flavia, a survivor of an acid attack had a classic ballet performance before Bosco and Oliver who are visually and hearing impaired respectively surprised just about everyone with a hip-hop piece in Lugaflow (rap in Luganda).

The curtains were closed by more presentations by Butterfly Project Uganda, Ma-Echola Women Group, Doors Uganda which is a group of former street children and the Kampala School for the physically handicapped.

Using sign-language, the dumb also communicated to the audience what they would like to be in the future through a translator.

Desire Tereka, an artistic director, who was in charge of putting the show together described the "Unseen Dreams" as a platform to promote inclusive living that considers children with disabilities.

"I am thankful that we made this happen. Inclusion is an important aspect of society. We believe that through the arts we have a more inclusive society and a more inclusive Uganda," he said.

 

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