Children of Uganda, award-winning troupe, to dance at Fairfield University

Children of Uganda, award-winning troupe, to dance at Fairfield University

Image: Uganda Children of Uganda, an award-winning dance troupe comprised of 20 Ugandan children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, will perform at Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Thursday, Feb. 14, at 7:30 p.m. and Friday, Feb. 15, at 8:00 p.m., and give Schoolday performances on Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. and Feb. 15 at 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. The event is co-presented with Creative Connection.

The Tour of Light 2002, a 17-city U.S. tour projected to raise $1 million to support orphans in Uganda and raise awareness of AIDS and its devastating impact on children, will visit churches, schools and theaters across the country, including The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Proceeds from this tour provide education, food and shelter for hundreds of Ugandan orphans, as well as help sustain a U.S. scholarship program.

Selected as "Best Performers" at the International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap in Washington, D.C. and hailed as "first-rate and inspiring" by The New York Times, Children of Uganda tours the United States biennially. In 2000, the group visited 11 cities, winning thousands of fans through performances at The Kennedy Center, The White House, and "The Late Show with David Letterman," among others, and raised $670,000 to support their fellow orphans.

"The Tour of Light is an exciting opportunity for American audiences to immerse themselves in East African culture rarely seen in the United States, shared by 20 skilled and joyful young performers with authentic instruments and costumes," said Frank Katoola, Children of Uganda choreographer. The children play a variety of handmade drums, harps and xylophones, and perform dances from a number of countries.

There will be a variety of activities all week with the children and throughout Fairfield County. There will be residences in Ridgefield, The Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk, Stamford and at the Quick Center.

The Tour of Light Schoolday performances are sponsored in part by the Kiwanis Club of Fairfield and the William and Philip Carlson Fund through the Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation.

Tickets are $20, $10 for children under 12. For information or tickets, call the box office at (203) 254-4010 or 1-877-ARTS-396, or visit the website at www.quickcenter.com.

Posted On: 01-25-2002 09:01 AM

Volume: 34 Number: 133