About

A bridge between tradition and now

Batalo East was formed to link and strengthen traditional and urban arts together, encouraging innovation, preserving culture, and developing young people rooted in their heritage.

Goal

Increase the knowledge and prominence of traditional dance alongside urban dance, developing globally aware young people in touch with their African culture, and dancers bringing world-class Afro-fusion to the international stage.

Mission

To establish an intergenerational space that strengthens traditional and urban dance together, encouraging innovation, personal development and preservation of culture through training, documentation, archiving, networking and collaboration.

Vision

Generations of innovative Africans and artists who are aware and proud of their identity.

Our story

Traditional dance is a cultural mainstay in Africa and a key part of the social fabric of over 40 ethnic groups across Uganda, even forming part of primary school education. Yet efforts to preserve and develop it are increasingly at risk: popular shows favour imported urban styles, university dance programmes are thinning, and in 2012 UNESCO listed Busoga’s Bigwala dance as intangible heritage in urgent need of safeguarding.

Batalo East was formed on the basis of building a bridge between traditional and urban dance, encouraging young people and dancers to value and incorporate traditional African art forms into their lives and artistry, alongside their development as global citizens and artists on the international stage.

Batalo East is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, registered in Uganda in 2013. It is composed of some of the members of Tabu Flo, and works across festivals, productions, academies, exchange programmes and outreach throughout the region.