Welcome to BPU Events! The home of all your information and updates about Breakdance Project Uganda events and perfomances.



Breakdance Project Uganda (BPU) is a grass roots, youth-centred organisation, founded in February 2006 by Abramz Tekya, working with disadvantaged young people in Uganda through art, culture and social activities to give them hope and opportunities. The Project uses breakdancing as a tool to engage young people and give them a platform to be heard. By encouraging young people to be peer mentors and to take on leadership roles within the organisation, the Project equips people with the skills, support and access to information they need to be leaders in their community.

Breakdance Project Uganda is a nationwide movement offering free regular breakdance lessons and life-skills workshops to young people across Uganda. The Project is centred on the belief that everyone is a student and everyone is a teacher and through mutual respect and sharing skills freely you can bring change to your own communities.

Mission: To engage young people through arts and culture to build leadership skills and promote social responsibility

Aims:
• Bridging the gap between the advantaged and disadvantaged and bringing people of different religious, tribal and social backgrounds together
• Promoting positive social responsibility
• Building peoples’ leadership skills and self esteem
• Increasing access to formal and informal education
• Generating employment opportunities
• Connecting local and international artists

BPU meets the organisational aims by providing a variety of skills based and educational activities, engaging and promoting youth participation, conducting out-reach in the community through events, workshops and performances and building a wide network of artists and activists who share the same aims. The Project supports formal and non-formal education opportunities by advocating the importance of education and partnering with organizations to increase members’ access to educational services. The Project also sponsors schools fees and scholastics for vulnerable members.

For more information and to stay connected go to;

www.bouncingcats.com
www.facebook.com/breakdanceprojectuganda
www.youtube.com/abramzt
www.myspace.com/breakdanceprojectuganda

BPU would like to thank all of our sponsors and partners for their support. If you would like to be part of BPU's positive art and entertainment events please contact us. We can offer exclusive benefits and extensive promotion to our partners and sponsors.

BPU Events Sponsors and Partners:

-The French Embassy in Uganda
-Redbull North America
-In Movement "Art for Social Change"
-SoluWorks
-AGYA (Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association)
-Uzezecloth
-Vision i
-3HillsBeyond

For more information about BPU events, partnership and sponsorship opportunities or to offer your support please contact us;

Support the work of Breakdance Project Uganda through buying official BPU merchandise. All profits go directly towards BPU’s programmes and activities in Uganda.

If you are located in Uganda, merchandise can be ordered and bought from the BPU Events Team during weekly breakdance sessions at Nsambya Sharing Youth Centre and at BPU events and performances. For more information email bpu.connect@gmail.com or contact BPU on 0775101122.

For people outside of Uganda, merchandise can be ordered online and shipped to your location. All items will be shipped from the UK. Please allow up to 3 - 6 weeks for processing and delivery. For bulk orders and special requests, contact us on bpu.connect@gmail.com.

Every year BPU hosts its biggest annual event known as Hiphop for Society . The purpose of this event is to show the positive roles that hiphop plays in society. The event is a whole day of performances, showcases, dance battles, educational discussions, workshops and video productions of BPU’s work in the community. Featuring breakdancers, visual artists, rappers, emcess and many more to entertain and educate the people. Hiphop for society takes place at Nsambya Sharing Youth Centre in January each year.

Hip Hop for Society 6 will be taking place in January 2013 but check out the videos and pictures below of previous events.


Video of one of the 2010 Hiphop for Society popping battles.

Here's a video summary of Hiphop for Society 2007.

"Raw Expression" is a brand new electrifying event night in Kampala City hosted by Breakdance Project Uganda that will feature established and up and coming underground hiphop artists and performers.

On September 30th, Breakdance Project Uganda launched the first "Raw Expression" at Open House in Kampala. The outstanding event featured elements of hiphop including Breakdance (bboying), Rap, Popping, Locking, Beatboxing, Dj’ing, Graffiti and Poetry through live dance battles, visual art displays and performances.

After a very tense breakdance battle between some of the best breakdancers in the country, international dance crew Tabu Flo were eventually crowned the winners by judges, with Hit the beat crew coming a close second. Throughout the eventing, acclaimed local contemporary artist, Wasswa Donald, created an amazing live art display. People of all ages enjoyed the hiphop, soul and funk vibes.

Don't miss the NEXT Raw Expression event! Dates to be confirmed.



Supported by the French Embassy in Uganda

BREAK-FAST are underground hiphop gatherings and battles organised by members of Breakdance Project Uganda to promote and acknowledge Ugandan artists by connecting different communities. The events bring together bboys and bgirls, graffiti artists, djs, beatboxers and emcess to network and develop the hiphop culture.

Breakdance Project Uganda's BREAK-FAST Team will be presenting their next event 'Fundamental Workshops' very soon.
DATE: Friday 27th April 2012
VENUE : Sharing Youth Centre Nsambya
STARTING TIME: 2pm Sharp
FEE: Free
NOTE: It doesnt matter your skill level, these workshops are helpfull to everyone.

Don't miss the 2vs2 bboy/bgirl battle taking place at the end of the workshop. For more details contact bpu.connect@gmail.com.

Recent BREAK-FAST events include the FINAL showdown following weeks of elimination rounds across Kampala and in Masaka. Bboys and bgirls battled it out at Nsambya Sharing Youth Centre to be named BREAK-FAST winners; BBoy Derrick from Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association (AGYA) won the Popping category; Bboy Paul from Natete won the One on One; and Bboy Sky from Hit the Beat Crew won the 7 to smoke. Congratulations to all you guys! The 3 on 3 battle was unfortunately rained off but will be rescheduled soon so get ready....

Details of the next BREAK-FAST event coming soon!

Breakdance Project Uganda is committed to working in marginalised communities in Uganda. We offer breakdance workshops and performances free of charge to bring people together and provide positive and educational entertainment. Community Outreach Events have taken place in Kisenyi, Kasubi, Kawempe, Nansana, Gulu, Kitgum and Masaka.

A video of BPU and Rock Steady Crew during community outreach in Kisenyi Slum, Kampala in march 2008.

Information about upcoming Community Outreach Events coming soon!

Bouncing Cats is the inspiring story of one man's attempt to create a better life for the children of Uganda using the unlikely tool of hip-hop with a focus on b-boy culture and breakdance. In 2006, Abraham "Abramz" Tekya, a Ugandan b-boy and A.I.D.S. orphan created Breakdance Project Uganda (B.P.U.). The dream was to establish a free workshop that would empower, rehabilitate, and heal the community by teaching youth about b-boy culture. Based in Kampala, Uganda, B.P.U. has recently expanded to include permanent classes in Gulu, Northern Uganda. Abramz teaches classes three Times a week to more than 300 kids from all parts of the country. Many of the children are homeless, victims of war and poverty, and few can afford proper schooling yet they walk from miles away to attend the B.P.U. classes. As Abramz says, "This is where many people"s pride is. It's a skill that no one can take away from us."



Crazy Legs, one of the founding members of the world famous Rock Steady Crew, visited Uganda after receiving an invitation from Abramz to teach b-boy classes. What he discovered upon his arrival was both heartbreaking and inspiring. Traveling throughout Uganda, from the southern slums to the war-torn North, Crazy Legs encountered a passion for hip-hop and desire to learn amongst the most squalid conditions.

Bouncing Cats follows Abramz, Crazy Legs, and Breakdance Project Uganda on a journey to use hip-hop culture for positive social change. The film features narration by Common and interviews with Mos Def, Will.I.Am, and K'Naan.

For information and up and coming screenings go to;

www.bouncingcats.com
www.facebook.com/bouncingcats
www.twitter.com/bouncingcats
www.vimeo.com/bouncingcats

DONT MISS THE PREMIERE OF BOUNCING CATS ON USA TV;
NOVEMBER 19TH, DOCUMENTARY CHANNEL, 8PM

BPU will be performing and offering free workshops as part of Joel Sames photo exhibition 'Rough the Potholes; Street cultures and empowerment' taking place on Saturday 28th April 2012 at Fas Fas, Katazamiti Road, Bugolobi, Kampala. The event starts at 4pm with workshops running from 4pm to 6pm, followed by the exhibition opening, videos and presentations then the performances will start from 9:30pm. Come and show your support!



Members from Breakdance Project Uganda also recently performed at BREAKING FREE! This project, organized by the Alliance Francaise and Goethe-Zentrum Kampala in close collaboration with Breakdance Project Uganda, lifted breakdance/dance to another dimension by connecting it with theatre elements and live-music. Ugandan, German and French artists worked together and created an innovative story-telling Breakdance performance. Not to be missed!



Breakdance Project Uganda regularly performs at events and festivals. We provide high quality, positive entertainment suitable for all ages. Recent performances include;

-LaBa Street Art Festival 2011
-Youthfest
-KISU Fun Day
-Ministry of Education and Sports Athletics Finals Kitgum

Information about more upcoming BPU performances coming soon!

Upcoming Events;

Come back soon for more info on upcoming events.

Regular Events;

Every year these guys put on some amazing events. Don't forget to add them to your hiphop diary!

www.wefree.it
www.floorwars.dk

www.bravefestival.pl
www.fourelements.at

Breakdance Project Uganda has a high quality sound system available for hire to reputable groups and organisations. For more information contact us on bpu.connect@gmail.com or +256 775101122