Bouncing Cats

I went for Bouncing Cats today at the National Geographic Museum's Grosvenor Auditorium. This documentary is about how breakdance (and hiphop) has affected the children of Uganda, which is considered one of the worst places in the world to be a child. Abramz Tekya, an orphan, took to breakdance as a child since it was something in his life that was his own. Today, he teaches the children in Kampala and Gulu. The movie is heart wrenching (seeing the immense poverty and the horrific state of the child soldiers with ears, noses, hands burnt, amputed and mutilated in ways unimaginable to most of us) and heart warming at the same time. It's heartening to see how the children embrace this dance and enjoy it with everything in them.

The name of the documentry comes from a couple of phrases they chanted to sound like beats when they didn't have music to dance to. They sorta rapped "Bouncing Cats. Baboons n Cats. Bouncing Cats. Baboons n Cats" over and over. It sounded extremely catchy! :) In the documentry they talk to different people in Kampala and Bulu about their lives and living conditions. What struck me was that almost every person they spoke to had fluent english. Often, as an Indian I feel insulted when non-Indians compliment me on my english. This insult stems from the assumption they have that we don't speak english well. Then, it must be hypocrictical of me to be impressed that the people of Uganda speak english quite effortlessly? Even their made up beat is in english and not in swahili or a local dialect! But, I think my surprise was that despite their incredible poverty and minimal education, their command over the english language was really strong.

After the movie, there was a discussion with the panel. Nyla Hassle (one of the producers of the movie) conducted the panel that consisted of Nabil Elderkin (director), Abramz Tekya, Crazy Legs (who went to Uganda and held workshops with the kids on break dancing) and Okot Jolly Grace (who has been involved with Invisible Children from the beginning). I love these discussions after movies at the NG museum!

After the panel, there was food, drink, dance and music! :)

♥ National Geographic Museum. ♥ Goldstar.