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Dancing has given me a voice - Valentino
What you need to know:
Dance with Valentino is a reality dance show where guests have an indepth interview about an unforgettable memory or event in their life. The professional dance team then choreographs that whole story into a dance.
Valentino R Kabenge is a Ugandan Latin and Ballroom dancer, an actor and a creative director. After enrolling at Mariam Ndagire Film and Performing Arts Centre, he met a friend who took him to a social dance place called Lotus Mexicana in Kampala.
Since then, he has never looked back. Valentino is arguably Uganda’s best dancer at the moment. He is staging a dance event this evening at Kampala Serena Hotel and Saturday Monitor’s Isaac Ssejjombwe had a chat with him.
So, why did you choose dancing?
Dance chose me. Never in wildest dreams did I think I would dance for a living. I did not know anything about it. I was not looking for it. A friend pushed me into it. But here we are and I am loving it.
What did you want to pursue?
I wanted to become a lawyer and that dream stopped when I dropped out of school.
How then did you join dancing?
A friend called Moses kept on insisting that I accompany him to a local Latin dance social community. It took him a month to convince me. In fact, I joined that club just to make him happy. Moses was a dancer whose interest in dancing was unmatched. Even today, he is into social dancing and organising Latin dance social events.
Describe the type of dancing you do?
It is called Latin and Ballroom Dancing, which is mostly a partnership dance, where couples, using step-patterns, move rhythmically, expressing their love for music. This genre of dance allows me to express myself creatively through movement and interpretation of music.
What have you achieved doing this?
So much. But what I treasure most is that dance has given me a voice to address people regardless of race and status and the opportunity to travel the world, sharing the joy of dance with the people.
You have been persistent in this field. Is dance a lucrative career?DM bodytext: Oh yes! It can be if you learn the game. It is not so easy but very doable.
So, what have you achieved doing this?
So much. But what I treasure most is that dance has given me a voice to address people of different races and status and the opportunity to travel the world sharing the joy of dance with the people.
Do you have any challenges so far?
Yes. In Uganda particularly, people are just starting to appreciate dance as a profession.
We have also seen you in comedy and in movies. Do you want to become an actor?
Acting was my first love when I joined performing arts. At the moment, I do both. It is easy for me to act and dance.
What happened to the Dance With Valentino reality show?
We paused it because I needed to gain more knowledge and understanding of Latin and Ballroom dance. I have had the opportunity to travel and study and I can confirm that I am almost ready to resume with Dance with Valentino reality show.
Tell us about the dance with Valentino project?
It is a reality dance show where guests have an in-depth interview about an unforgettable memory or event. The professional dance team choreographs that story into a dance. The guest then performs within that choreographed dance, to find a sense of healing at the end. The show also creates awareness on issues such as domestic violence, depression, heartbreak, loss and rejection etc through these special performances.
You are launching the Uganda Dance Nights today. What is it all about?
Uganda Dance Nights will be an annual celebration of dance, which we are inaugurating today with a Latin and Ballroom GalaBall. The idea sparked from different projects we (myself and Zena, work colleague) have been a part of abroad. Uganda’s dance industry needs a mega project that brings people together to appreciate great talent we have as a nation. People should expect to have a great time watching fantastic and unique entertainment through dance.
Are celebrities going to join you on this day?
I am so honoured to be working with the amazing talents including Winnie Nwagi, Dr Bbosa, Allan Kutos, Anne Kansiime and Rachael Magoola.
How long does it take for one to learn Latin and Ballroom dance?
For a professional, you never stop learning because you have to obtain more skills and techniques. For wedding couples, we only focus on one choreography for their first dance and when it is mastered, they are happy and good to go. Some clients come to me when all they need is to have a few steps to make them confident on the dance floor.
Do you offer lessons?
Yes I do offer dance classes for both adults and Kids plus wedding first dance lessons.
