Breakdance Project Uganda

BPU is a youth centred project that works directly with young people of different backgrounds in Uganda, with a particular focus on those who are disadvantaged, to give them hope and opportunities. The project is centred on the belief that everyone can learn and everyone can teach and has the capacity to be a positive role model to others. The project has been built around free breakdancing classes. In addition, it partners with other organisations to provide social and educational activities and services to its members.

BPU aims to:

• bridge the gap between the advantaged and disadvantaged and bring people of different religious, tribal, and social backgrounds together;
• promote positive social responsibility;
• build peoples' leadership skills and self esteem;
• increase access to formal and informal education;
• generate employment opportunities through private teaching and performances; and
• connect local and international artists.

In addition to the core activities in Kampala, members also carry out outreach visits to towns in the East and North of Uganda. Over a period of 3 years, BPU members developed strong relationships with organisations and young people in Gulu and in May 2009 launched a second branch of the project, providing an opportunity for youth in the North to become BPU members and access regular free breakdancing lessons plus other project activities that promote positive social change.

BPU supports formal and non-formal education opportunities by advocating for the importance of education and partnering with organisations to increase members' access to educational services such as life skills workshops, media skills training, voluntary counseling and testing, and advocacy training. Through the sale of BPU t-shirts, the project also sponsors school fees for vulnerable members.

According to BPU, from the initial three students who turned up at the first ever session, the project has grown through word of mouth, regular showcase performances, and exposure on the world wide web to become a thriving organisation with over 1000 members nationally and many more supporters around the world.

A documentary, "Bouncing Cats", was recently produced about the project that follows Crazy Legs, one of the founding members of the Rock Steady Crew, and Abramz Tekya, founder of Breakdance Project Uganda, on a journey through Uganda to use hip-hop culture for positive social change from the southern slums to the war-torn north.

Click here to view the trailer and read other information about the documentary "Bouncing Cats".