Dancers Call on Ugandan Musicians for More Industry Support

At what appeared to be a press conference, several video and backup dancers, including Eva Dancer, Ritah Dancehall, and Bujju wa Gravity, expressed their concerns about the limited support from the musicians they work with.

Eva Dancer, who took center stage, emphasized that dancers play a crucial role in a musician’s success and should therefore receive greater recognition and support in their own careers.

While acknowledging that they are paid for their work, Eva stressed the significant role dancers play in the popularity of music videos and live performances.

In many cases, dancers become as recognizable as the musicians themselves.

Eva specifically called on Eddy Kenzo, the President of the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF) and Senior Presidential Adviser on Creatives, to advocate for dancers in the same way he advocates for musicians.

She pointed to the global success of Eddy Kenzo’s “Sitya Loss” song, which gained international attention partly due to the dance performance by the Ghetto Kids in the music video, as an example of how dance can elevate a song’s reach and, ultimately, a musician’s career.

Eva also highlighted that musicians often have the connections to help boost the careers of dancers.

Moreover, she shared that dancers are often hesitant to approach musicians for assistance due to fear and suggested that musicians should take the initiative to offer more support to the dancers they rely on.

Eva believes that with the right support and advocacy, dancing could become a more respected profession, one that could inspire and create employment opportunities.