Portifolio
This project has its basis in the question “what is home and what is not?” with four chapters steaming from a research project “Alienation”. One being a dance film, an art installation, a performative presentation and a stage performance. taking you on a journey of self-discovery of what a home is and where we belong. It reflects on knowledge about one self through the lens of colonialism and decolonisation. Concept and performance by Robert Ssempijja. Premiered online at JOMBA Contemporary Dance Experience, Durban, South Africa 31st of August 2021. Premiered a second time at the African Dance Biennale 2020, Marrakesh, Morocco 26th of November 2021. Also featured in the Magazine People United Performance Festival on Paper first edition, Germany 2021.
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PII | BETWEEN THE MESHES | ROOTS & ROOTS | EKITAGULIRO
This project is done as a collaboration between Dance Revolution East Africa and Company Christoph
Winkler in 2021. The concept and the artistic director of the four pieces which are named is Robert
Ssempijja. The four pieces are each inspired by a region in Uganda and what he could find within the
nature in this four regions. The project extends over the whole globe and you can see the pieces
through the projects website.
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The piece treated the importance on using helmets in a country
where most things and people are transported by Boda Bodas
(motorcycle taxis). The piece was part of a campaign all over the
African continent to improve road safety. It was done in a
partnership with The Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety.
Launched in televisions and different media outlets in France and
all over the African continent in June 2021
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The Dance film questions the guidelines which
were given to people living in African countries
during the Corona pandemic. Concept and
performance by Robert Ssempijja. Premiered
online at GRIPS Theatre, Berlin, Germany 14th
of June 2020. Awarded with “The Fringe”
award at JOMBA Contemporary Dance
Experience, Durban, South Africa 6th of
September 2020.
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The piece shows how the postcolonial situation is influencing the culture in western and African countries. It questions the notion of the terms »traditional« and »contemporary« dance in Uganda as well as in Africa as a continent. The performers play with the stereotypical images that exist in western countries of how black people from Africa move and behave and try to deconstruct and rewrite those images in order to reveal the underlying power structures. Choreographed and performed by Robert Ssempijja and Michael Gagawala Kaddu with Christoph Winkler as a mentor. Premiered at Fan Fic Festival at Ballhaus Ost, Berlin, Germany 14th and 16th of March 2019.
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(The Boards that means the World)
A political piece which shows the relations between east Africa and Germany. The piece is performed with lots of movements, voice and humour. Choreographed by Christopher Winkler and Robert Ssempijja. Performed by Robert Ssempijja. Premiered at Ballhaus Ost, Berlin, Germany 20th of April 2018. Went on tour in Germany 2018 and 2019.
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BURNED
An illustrative piece on the topic of climate change. It was created to illustrate what a panel had been discussing in the matter of climate change, challenges and solutions in Uganda. It was made as collaboration between the Swedish Embassy in Kampala and Robert Ssempijja. Choreographed and performed by Robert Ssempijja and Oscar Ssenyonga. Premiered in 23rd of September 2017 at a climate change conference in Kampala, Uganda.
SHADOWED
A moving photo session within the project Shadowed which treats the topic of gender based violence worldwide. Robert Ssempijja collaborated with the photographer Ester Mbabazi to make a series of photographs illustrating the violence towards men, since this is usually forgotten in the debate about gender based violence. Created in 2016 and exhibition the same year.
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This is a work in progress project which have two
versions. One is made for an outdoor space and
the other one is made for an indoor space.
Concept and performance by Robert Ssempijja.
For the outdoor version the development of the
piece is ever evolving and it takes place in the
conversation between the performer and the
audience. It has been performed in Senegal
(2017), the USA (2017), Sweden (2018) and
Germany (2017). The indoor version was finalised
and premiered at Sophiensaele, Berlin, Germany
19th of January 2022
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The Dance film takes the story of the first African
space program in Zambia as a starting point to
explore themes of afro futurism, afronauts and
new narratives about relationship between Africa
and technology. Artistic director Robert
Ssempijja. Concept by Company Christoph
Winkler. Performance by more than 120 different
artists from Uganda. Premiered online at
Sophiensaele, Berlin, Germany 22nd of November
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This Dance film gives you an insight in a
country which have never had the
possibilities for a peaceful transition in
leadership. Instead the country is still stuck
in a roller-coaster of colonial structures, all
from the choreographer’s perspective of
how it is to grow up in such a country.
Concept and performance by Robert
Ssempijja and Kato Brovin. This Dance film
is a part of the project “It’s all forgotten
now” a performative mixtape for Mark
Fisher by Company Christoph Winkler.
Premiered online at Sophiensaele, Berlin,
Germany 23rd-29th of November 2020.
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A musical – dance piece tackling the meaning of arrival for different people in different contexts. It is done as a collaboration between artists from GRIPS Theater (Berlin, Germany), Moze Mukalazi (Uganda) and Robert Ssempijja (Uganda). Directed by Theresa Henning collaborating Ellen Uhrhan. Premiered at GRIPS Podewill, Berlin, Germany 11th of September 2019. Touring 2019-2020.
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A piece which explores how people can come together no matter which experiences they carry or which gender they possess. It’s a collaboration piece between Red Clay Dance (USA) and Keiga Dance Company (Uganda) which Robert Ssempijja is featuring. Choreographed by Vershawn Sanders Ward and Jonas Byaruhanga. Premiered at Dance Center of Columbia College, Chicago, USA 8th-10th of November 2018.
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THE FACE DIVERSION
A work in progress, which is battling the topic of money, media and capitalism. The institutions which creates and publish our newspapers is supposed to work for the people. It is a key institution for the democratic system and for the public trust. What happens when the essence of them are killed due to their own greed, the capitalistic system and the corruption of the human mind? Choreographed and performed by Robert Ssempijja and Mohamed Y. Shika. Performed at Ecolé des Sablés in Senegal, 2017
RRRRRAH
A piece which explores and symbolises the inner fight we all have with ourselves every minute, day and week. It manifests the battle that is ongoing when we have to take both big and small decisions in our lives. Choreographed by Catherine Nakawesa. Performed by Robert Ssempijja and Brovin Kato. Premiered in 2016 at Bayimba Festival, Kampala, Uganda.
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