Kisumu youth dancers have a dream to fly high

By MAUREEN ODIWUOR

The midmorning sun is gallantly crossing over the lake into the horizon. A number of youths is gathering in groups of different sizes in the lakeside city of Kisumu.

They discuss a variety of issues, ranging from the harsh economic times to political matters.

However, for Youths Accosted with Arts (Yawa) dancers, the script is different. They have tight schedule to achieve their dreams.

At this hour, the dancers are making their way into the Goan Hall, located at Milimani Estate.

Within no minute, their gigantic choreographed moves make the audience to remain glued to their performance and even desire to have more. Yawa is a group that was founded four years ago, and has so far moved to greater heights, and now it is a member of Dance Team Africa (DTA), which is part of African Division of Dancers Team based in Isim Ki, Finland.

Yawa Chief Executive Officer, Hozea Dan, says that some four dancers have been identified to visit Finland, The Netherlands, Italy, Norway and Sweden. This will be their first opportunity to traverse the world for cultural exposure.

“It has taken us so  long for these doors to open, finally courtesy of our sponsors Dance Team International, we are going to tour the world,” says Dan. He adds that the group is no longer a Kisumu affair, although their activities and trainings are still conducted here.

They are soon going global with their eye-catching dance. The Manager Michael Roberts a.k.a Kish, says he wishes to see Kenyan artistes have wider understanding of music. “This group has yielded a lot in the field of dance. We currently have trainers from Yawa offering dance lessons in Arusha, Tanzania,” says Dan. Last year December Dan brought together different designers by organising a Kisumu Fashion Week whose turnout was impressive.

  Kisumu Fashion Week

“Apart from dancing, I am a designer and the idea of the Kisumu Fashion Week was the best with over 15 local designers presenting their items. In fact, we have begun plans of organising a bigger one this year,” he says. The event is scheduled for August 16 and 17, which will comprise of a fashion fair at the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground, Kisumu.

“We have already began negotiations with sponsors and we invite more of them to come forward and assist us create entrepreneurs,” Dan adds.  Also in the Yawa diary is the pioneer of the first International Kisumu Festival of dance that will attract competitors from countries like Sweden and Madagascar.

Kish is also a trainer of young children living in orphanages around Kisumu in dance, whereby every year they perform at Kisumu Peace Festival. Dan says they aspire to change the image of Kisumu through art and have therefore begun negotiations with the department of Culture concerning the construction of an International Centre for Dance and Choreography. 

“This will be the first of such a project in East and Central Africa whose construction we hope will begin by the end of the year. Any assistance in realising this big dream is welcomed,” he says.

He reveals the centre will be used in offering dance trainings.  ‘Yawa’ is also a Dholuo term meaning ‘our people’, what done says, he coined after having four-year-dance training in Nairobi and went back home, Kisumu to found the group.

“After I completed my training, I went back to Kisumu, for that is where I grew up and with the passion to influence positively, I called for an audition in dancing and 42 people turned up. This is how we started,” he says.

Later on, in 2011 they joined the Sakata dance competition in the Citizen TV and became the first runners up. They tied with Wapi Wapi Group after FBI that  took the trophy home. “Wapi Wapi then competed for the Pan African Championship where they won some dollars. This made us proud because we were in the same level with them,” says Dan.