Michael Gagawala Kaddu

Michael Gagawala Kaddu

Michael Gagawala Kaddu is a Ugandan contemporary dancer with strong influences from traditional Ugandan dance. He works on projects in Uganda, Rwanda, Germany, Switzerland, the USA (Chicago), and Sweden. He is closely connected with the Company Christoph Winkler, particularly in the production “Songs & Dances about the Weather.” As a dance activist from a traditionally diverse background, he deconstructs movements to enable the body to convey information, rhythms, and secrets, building his own movement vocabulary. For a long time, he has aimed to expand the scope of his dance activism, with curiosity and play guiding his creative work.

“I am a Ugandan dance activist, using dance to address social, political, and economic issues within the community. Throughout my creative process, curiosity and playfulness guide me. As an artist from a traditionally diverse background, I deconstruct movements to allow the body to create and transfer information, secrets, and rhythms, building my own movement vocabulary.

For a long time, I have sought to expand the scope of my dance activism. This progression has developed step by step, through the experiences I’ve gained by meeting new people, sharing ideas, and embracing opportunities to collaborate with artists of remarkable skill. This has led me to embrace the process, while giving my best to achieve excellence in conveying more than just a story through movement. Most importantly to me, as a Black man, is portraying myself in my Black body to tell a story about its significance, raising awareness about racism and discrimination.”