Traditional meets urban
Contemporary dance, cultural storytelling and creative transformation for a generation of young African artists.
On our stage
All productionsNambi
Kuhamahama
Festival 2025
Festival 2024
Festival 2023
We move culture forward
Batalo East links traditional and urban arts to encourage innovation, preserve culture, and develop young people who are rooted in their heritage and ready for the world.
Generations of innovative Africans and artists who are aware and proud of their identity.
Our vision / Batalo East
The work in numbers
A decade of building bridges between traditional and urban dance across East Africa.
Years of artistic practice
Productions staged
Audience members reached
Young artists engaged
Explore our programs
Living initiatives that turn traditional and urban dance into education, exchange and opportunity for young people.
Batalo Dance Festival
An annual celebration of cultural unity that debuted in 2013 and now draws over 1,000 young performers from Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Congo.
Batalo East Academy
An annual, intensive five-day series of master classes facilitated by both local and international experts.
Dance Lab
A higher-level policy, advocacy and management discussion on the state of dance in Uganda and the region.
Dance Theatre Night
A theatrical form taking in hip hop and traditional styles to speak to the social, political, economic and environmental issues affecting communities.
Dance Theatre Production
Batalo East annually produces a series of short and full-length shows, using urban and traditional dances to address and reflect on social issues.
Exchange Program
The Regional Young Dancer Exchange unites promising East African dancers from Congo, Kenya and Rwanda, sending ambassador dancers in both directions.
Out Reach
Prison outreach programming piloted in Lira, in coordination with the Lira Peace and Justice Commission.
The Equation
A monthly workshop series blending traditional Ugandan dances with urban dance styles, led by traditional teachers, instrumentalists and urban instructors.
Urban Market
An upcycling social entrepreneurship project that helps finance and sustain Batalo East events, built with local designers, photographers and graffiti artists.
Batalo Dance Festival
An annual celebration of cultural unity since 2013, now drawing over 1,000 young performers from Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Congo.
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By giving, you help build a generation of young people rooted in their heritage and equipped to change their communities.
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News & stories
All stories
Kuhamahama Arts Movement Book Launch.
The 11th Edition of Batalo Dance Festival 2025 featured the Kuhamahama Art Movement Book Launch, a groundbreaking publication documenting the cultural richness of Bunyole culture in Butaleja District.…
The Eq.uat.ion: “Traditional Meets Urban” Monthly Dance workshops.
Ready to build something?
Partner with us, support the work, or come and dance. Every path helps move culture forward.
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