Unique Ugandan Ballet in aid of shell-shocked child soldiers
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This weekend, a unique collaboration between charity I Am Somebody’s Child Soldier and Uganda National Contemporary Ballet will take place at WAC arts center in London.
The performance, choreographed by Valerie Miquel, “depicts the daily struggles and woes of a female child soldier living through war and anguish in Uganda”, an unfortunate and horrifying feat that thousands of children, many of whom are kidnapped from their homes, are forced to endure.
In 2012, the horrific realities of the war in Uganda, were brought to international attention, when details of Ugandan Wr Lors, Joseph Kony’s activities emerged.
Despite this, little has been done to combat the problem, and very few people are aware of the irreparable damage done to children as young as 10, who are forced to kill or be killed.
Charity organisation I Am Somebody’s Child Soldiers hopes to right this wrong by “empowering child soldiers all over the world so each one of them can live a powerful life free from mental trauma.”
Poetry, live music and talks by human rights activists will also feature as part of what is set to be an amazing event for a worth cause, led by Ugandan National Contemporary Ballet, which was established in 2007 , and has toured across Europe and Africa with 23 incredible pieces to their name.
For more information, or to get your tickets visit:
http://www.midweekmedley.com/iascs-presents-uncb-6-dec-14/4587091514
All proceeds from the event will go to I Am Somebody’s Child Soldier.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday 6th December 2014
Where: WAC Arts, Hampstead Town Hall Centre, 213 Haverstock Hill, NW3 4QP
Time: 1800 to 21:30
Saturday, December 6th - Sunday, December 7th, 7:30pm
Bronx Obama
Ryan Murdock, 2014, 92 min.
When Louis Ortiz shaved off his goatee one day in 2008, his life changed forever. He looked in the mirror and he didn't see himself - a middle-aged, unemployed Puerto Rican father from the Bronx. He saw the face of change, of hope... of money. Bronx Obama tells the strange and improbable tale of a Barack Obama impersonator who tries to cash in on the "look of a lifetime" and chases a fevered American dream from opportunity to oblivion.
Filmmaker Ryan Murdock's debut feature film has been in the making for nearly 3 years, as he intimately documented Mr Ortiz's transformation during Obama's first term and the 2012 election season. Murdock has rolled out this story in multiple parts - first as a 36-minute radio piece for NPR's This American Life, then as a short film for The New York Times. The 90-minute feature documentary reveals a host of new characters; a manager who pushes Louis hard to "become Obama," a seasoned "Bill Clinton" who dispenses advice, and a hard-working "Mitt Romney" who bets it all on his newfound career. Murdock captures unexpectedly hilarious moments along this Twilight-Zone-esque campaign trail while delving deep into the question of what it means to be someone you're not.
There will be a Q&A with director Ryan Murdock and the subject of Bronx Obama, Louis Ortiz, following both the screening on December 6th and 7th.
"Funny and insightful" - Variety
"An intricate and compelling documentary that deftly weaves together multiple narrative layers-the American Dream, surrealism, fatherhood, race relations, celebrity" - VICE
"9 out of 10...An achievement in tone, finding the perfect balance between thought-provoking and entertaining film." - The Arts Guild
"4 out of 5...Hollywood itself couldn't have crafted a more perfectly sad story and equally deserved triumph." - We Got This Covered
