Children of Uganda’s Tour of Light 2012 Illuminates East African Traditions Through Performances at Davis Performing Arts Center
Presented by the GU Department of Performing Arts and Davis Performing Arts Center, acclaimed, exuberant song and dance troupe raises funds and global awareness of effects of HIV/AIDS on children in developing nations
Washington, DC — Hailed as “first rate” and “inspiring” by the New York Times, the Children of Uganda (COU) will perform a celebratory program of song and dance, showcasing East Africa’s vibrant culture and history, at the Davis Performing Arts Center’s Gonda Theatre on Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
The troupe of energetic performers, ranging in age from 10 to 22, have taken their Tour of Light around the United States biennially since 2002, performing at a variety of venues including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with the goal of helping support hundreds of AIDS orphans and vulnerable children under COU’s care.
Uganda’s AIDS epidemic has resulted in approximately 1.7 million children losing one or both parents. Children of Uganda helps to educate and support the most vulnerable population through various programs focusing on educational support, food and water security, and medical care. The organization also promotes global awareness of the effects of HIV/AIDS on children in developing nations around the world and advocates for international assistance.
Davis Performing Arts Center Artistic Director Derek Goldman says, “We are honored to host Children of Uganda. This work not only features extraordinary artistry, but also embodies our mutual commitment to global and intercultural collaborative exchange. We’re dedicated to engaging issues of social justice and human rights, and employing the performing arts to make the world a better place.”
The Boston Globe said of the Children of Uganda, “Given sorrow, they have made beauty. With nothing more than sticks and drums and their own bare feet, they have made art. Their performance brought the audience to their feet, cheering and stomping and whistling for more.”
Tickets to the evening performance of Children of Uganda are $20 general, $5 for students. To purchase, visit http://performingarts.georgetown.edu or call 202-687-ARTS (2787). The Davis Performing Arts Center is located on Georgetown University’s main campus, at 3700 O St. NW, in Washington, D.C.
A special matinee performance for DC public schools will also be held the morning of January 26. For additional information about the school matinee, contact Kay Twomey with Children of Uganda at 202-270-9005 or kaytwomey@gmail.com.
Established in 1995, Children of Uganda cares for orphans and other disadvantaged children in Uganda. Our mission is to support and empower orphans and vulnerable children in Uganda to lead healthy and successful lives. With the largest orphan population per capita of any country in the world, Uganda has nearly 2.4 million children who have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS, extreme poverty and civil conflict. As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in the United States, Children of Uganda works in conjunction with local non-governmental organizations in Uganda to provide education and support to hundreds of children in need. Our vision is that all children in Uganda receive an education to become productive members of their community who assume leadership roles and positively impact Ugandan society and the world.
Georgetown University’s Department of Performing Arts integrates creative and critical inquiry, emphasizing artistic excellence, interdisciplinary learning, socially engaged performance, and the spirit of collaboration. The department is home to the College’s undergraduate degree programs in American Musical Culture and Theater & Performance Studies with dozens of performing groups in all aspects of the performing arts. Administering a wide range of activities—from teaching critical and creative courses to mentoring participation in student organizations—the department also sponsors the professional Friday Music concert series in McNeir Hall and hosts a full season of Theater in the state-of-the-art Davis Performing Arts Center. http://performingarts.georgetown.edu
The Royden B. Davis, S.J. Performing Arts Center opened in November 2005 in the center of Georgetown University’s campus as the only building in Georgetown history designed specifically for arts education. The Center is the academic home to the Department of Performing Arts and features two theatre spaces: the proscenium Gonda Theatre and the black box Devine Studio Theatre. The Davis Performing Arts Center season unfolds in intimate dialogue with the Department’s curricular offerings. In addition to mainstage theater productions, the Department sponsors numerous music and dance performances, workshops, readings, master classes, symposia, and guest lectures, placing students from the entire Georgetown community in regular contact with leading professionals from the US and beyond.
Media Contact:
Laura Mertens
lmm236@georgetown.edu
202-687-6933