By KT Reporter
On Wednesday morning, a quick street poll by our reporter in Kawempe and central Kampala revealed that many parents and residents still view dance purely as entertainment.For most, football, athletics, and rally racing define “real sport,” while dance remains linked to music, drama, and cultural events.
“Dancing is not a sport. It’s just entertainment, maybe part of music and drama.” Alex Vvubya, a resident of Kavule, told our reporter, adding that sports should involve running, sweating, and physical contests like football or athletics. “You don’t compete in dancing the way you do in football. It’s for fun at parties or cultural events.”
On the contrary, dance sport is among the fastest-growing disciplines in Uganda’s schools. It is even taught as part of Physical Education under the new lower secondary curriculum, with students training and competing in structured formats.
The sport falls under the category of artistry games, where movements are performed to rhythm and music, similar to gymnastics or acrobatics. Athletes are judged on elements such as musicality, physicality, and technical precision of their moves. Dance sport has been recognized as a competitive discipline on the global stage since 1922, beginning with styles like ballroom dancing.
Uganda has also taken a step in promoting the dance sport, and this year it is sending four teams to compete in the sport at the 2025 Federation of East African Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) Games. The event, hosted in Kakamega, Kenya, will mark the sport’s debut in the Games under the category of demonstration sport.
According to Barnabas Ssebuyungo, General Secretary of the Uganda Dance Sport Federation, the qualified schools will each bring six athletes and two officials to showcase their skills in four distinct dance disciplines, including Afro dance, popping, break dance, and hip-hop crew.
The schools that are expected to represent Uganda include St. Juliana High School, Gayaza; Our Lady of Africa, Namiryango; Sheema Girls School; and St. Balikudembe, Mitala Maria. The teams are part of a larger Ugandan contingent of over 1,600 participants, including 66 secondary schools, 11 primary schools, and three special needs teams, seen off by the Ministry of Education and Sports to compete from August 14–22, 2025.
Dance sport’s inclusion marks a significant milestone, with Ssebuyungo noting that while this is its first appearance at the East African level, the sport has been gaining traction through four prior national competitions.
Dance sport was introduced in Uganda in 2016 and received official recognition from the National Sports Council in 2020. Since then, it has evolved from a niche activity in elite, urban schools that had embraced Music, Dance, and Drama to a fast-growing phenomenon capturing the imagination of learners in both rural and urban areas.
Initially embraced by schools less focused on traditional competitive sports like football, dance sport is now a vibrant platform for fostering creativity and athleticism, with schools serving as key breeding grounds for talent. Currently, the federation has over 1300 registered clubs, most of them being schools and a few community clubs and crews. However, Ssebuyungo said the sport has faced stereotypes, with some conservative parents perceiving it as an activity for “spoilt” children.
The general secretary added that the federation is striving to change the misconception among parents and students and show them the benefits that come with dance as a sport. “Dance sport is a legitimate sport like any other,” he said. “It also offers career opportunities across multiple industries, including entertainment, film, music videos, theatre, event choreography, fitness training, and professional competitions. Those who pursue it professionally can earn well while building diverse skills in performance, production, and creative direction.”
Annet Lunkuse, a senior 3 student, said her school does not yet offer dance sport, but she enjoys dancing and would join immediately if the program were introduced. However, she admitted she is concerned that her parents might disapprove, as some still view dance as an activity for “spoilt” children.
“My mother always says dancing is just for fun and worries it might distract me from my studies,” she said. Cathy Kaana, assistant patron for dance sport at St. Juliana High School, noted that dance sport has faced stereotypes, with some parents initially skeptical of its value. However, once they understand its competitive and professional potential, attitudes change.
“Many parents think it’s just fun entertainment,” the teacher said. “But when we explain that it is a structured sport with clear rules, judged on skill, technique, and creativity, they start to see it differently. They also learn about health benefits and the career opportunities it opens up in competitions, professional dance troupes, theatre, film, and choreography. Once parents understand the discipline and benefits, they become supportive and encourage their children to take it seriously.”
Kaana added that certain inappropriate dance moves, such as twerking, are not permitted in dance sport. She noted that when parents are informed about the acceptable styles learners will perform, many understand and allow their children to participate. However, some parents still refuse entirely, making it impossible for the school to proceed with the learner’s participation, even if the learner is interested.
The teacher added that one of the advantages of dance sport is that it does not require extensive equipment or facilities like pitches or tracks. “It can be practiced indoors, even within a classroom, which makes it ideal for schools with limited space,” the teacher explained. “A simple classroom can be transformed into a studio for lessons and practice, making the sport accessible and popular among students.”
Dance sport in Uganda encompasses nine main disciplines, including ballet, which is being promoted in nursery and primary schools, contemporary, breakdancing, Latin and standard styles, popping, hip-hop crew (for group performances), salsa, merengue, and bachata. Other categories include acrobatic rock and roll, para-dance for persons with disabilities, and Afro dances, which incorporate traditional moves promoted by the national federation.
Uganda ranks highly in dance sport, coming second in Africa behind Morocco and ahead of South Africa. Sixteen African countries formally participate in the sport. Globally, Uganda is ranked 11th out of 123 countries. Professional dance troupes such as Ghetto Kids and Masaka Kids have also brought recognition to Uganda, primarily in the entertainment sector.
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