Valentino Kabenge to represent Uganda through dance
Valentino Kabenge with a female dancer. Photo/Courtesy
What you need to know:
- The show brings dances from across the world to the stage, combining Latin and Ballroom, jazz, afrobeats, and theatrical showdance, featuring Marius Iepure and Strictly Come Dancing’s Flavia Cacace among other incredible dancers.
Ugandan dancer Valentino Kabenge is going to be touring nine cities across the United Kingdom at the Viva Carnival with Strictly Come Dancing’s Oti Mabuse this June. The Viva Carnival is a touring dance spectacle across nine major UK cities, including Manchester, Blackpool, and Birmingham, among others, with the grand finale in the West End of London from 12th - 24th of June.
The show brings dances from across the world to the stage, combining Latin and Ballroom, jazz, afrobeats, and theatrical showdance, featuring Marius Iepure and Strictly Come Dancing’s Flavia Cacace among other incredible dancers.
With every city Valentino dances in, he is not just performing but creating history as one of Uganda’s first Latin and ballroom dancers to tour internationally at this scale and this time, he is determined to represent Uganda to the fullest. “This is more than a stage. It is a global spotlight,” Valentino says. “And I’m proud to carry Uganda with me.”
Mr Kabenge’s journey with Oti and Marius Dance Studio began through a shared vision, a passion for dance, encouraging dance for all, and performance excellence and what started as coaching and mentorship has resulted in to joining them on the Viva Carnival tour.
With the sharpening of his technique and expanding his international exposure, he intends to develop his role in nurturing the next generation of Ugandan talent upon his return.
“I hope to develop and sustain places where the next generation can learn earlier than I was able and travel faster and further in their careers as a result,” he adds.
Best known for Dance with Valentino, his Kampala-based dance education and performance platforms, Valentino has long been a pioneer in blending technical discipline with Afrocentric expression. His classes, performances, and choreographic works have shaped Uganda’s emerging Latin and Ballroom culture.
