It is still dark in Uganda. It is 5:30am. I am sitting outside the Ndere office (the only place to get a few bars for internet) listening to the call for prayer from the temple across the hill and a very large bird above my head making sounds that I have never heard before.
Uganda is magic.
Yesterday we went to Lugala which is where the rehearsal/living compound for the artists is for Ndere. I will be talking about Ndere and Rwangyezi Stephen for years to come but here is a tiny slice: he brings kids from all around Uganda into the troupe who have a talent, drive, and desire to dance and sing. He then pays for their school (this is very important, every child MUST go to school and do well) and housing and they train and perform with Ndere Troupe.
I mean…right? Isn’t that how the world should work ALL THE TIME????
Their talent is abundant, their love and humor contagious, and their smiles are the brightest, most authentic things I have ever had the luck to come across. Yesterday as we passed the cow tied in front of the police station (someone had stolen the cow and the owners had not yet retrieved it) to enter the gates we heard the drums. As we drove up the hill it was lined with these young artists playing their instruments, clapping, singing, dancing, welcoming us. They pulled us out of the car and into the rehearsal space where we danced and danced and danced. They took us through their instruments, their songs, Stephen spoke of history and culture. They asked us questions about theatre and America (how do we get young people to turn off their i-pads and just watch art??? Ahhhh…universal problems.)
We got a tour of the grounds (Aaron saw a monkey! He was very excited.) and ate lunch and then began (we will continue in a few days) teaching our work to them. They are already amazing at it. I’ve never seen a student leave the ground like they do.
My face hurts so much from smiling. My heart is 3 times its normal size, I am sure. I can’t believe how remarkable this whole experience has been so far. We start the research portion today. Traveling to the country and then we begin with the interviews of people. I can’t wait to create this show. I can’t wait to bring Ndere back to Revolutions.
This is what living is about for me. Connecting with people through the art. Hearing the stories, touching each other, experience it all together. One of the young male artists was walking with Aaron yesterday and wanted to show him something. He took Aaron’s hand and held on to it as they walked to the guava tree (holding hands is common here.) They were like two people in love exploring the land. Shouldn’t we all just be people in love? In love with each other, the world, the connection, the differences, all of it.
I know, I am overdoing it with the sap but really. It’s not the worst idea anyone has ever had.
I can’t post photos yet as my camera died and I forgot my charger (yay last minute packing!) also the internet is pretty bad so this blog will have to do for now. And you will just have to come see their show and take a workshop and break some bread with all these wonderful people in January 2015.
Love and peace. I better go get ready for the day.
(pardon the typos. It is dark and I don’t have enough juice to edit.)
