Shanta, a respected figure in the current dance spheres in Uganda, spoke to us about her early life, influences, dance journey, and pursuing a career in acting.Family BackgroundSharlot Kawesa Shanta was born on 30th November 1994. She was born and raised in Mbarara (Kihindi cell) in a family of five; four girls and one boy.“My family is what I would like to call a cocktail; from having a Ugandan backbone being Mufumbira of Kisoro to having family ties in Congo (Kisangani), Cameroon (Yaounde), Ghana, Tanzania, and Kenya.”Early Dance InfluenceBeing born to a Ugandan dad and a Congolese mom, Shanta says that growing up, every day “was a party.” “Waking up to Lingala records playing nonstop in the mornings and evenings. I remember dancing on the veranda as if on stage with my cousins and friends (a repeated basic routine).”“I grew up with my parents but we lived in an area where both my paternal and maternal grandparents were nearby hence constantly surrounded and exposed to different cultures, people, food, music, dance, language, style, and fashion.”Moving to KampalaFrom Mbarara, Shanta moved to Kampala to further her education and she continued to shape her interests in dance and basketball in high school before graduating later at UCU.“With education in play, I moved to Kampala City for further studies. In high school, I was still very active with dance and basketball and my name was very popular around the MDD, Interact Club, and Inter-school sports leagues.“I graduated from Uganda Christian University with a bachelor’s degree in public Administration and Management and worked with Exquisite Solution (Qsource company), Stanbic Bank until it was no more in 2018 – throwing me into a rabbit hole of seeking a job again.”Ghetto Kids’ Patricia Nabakooza starts university education in the United StatesDance As A Professional Career“In 2019 I professionally joined Dance, earning my spot in the ‘IAM FEMALE’ dance project under the RVC Dance crew that showcased at the National Theater of Uganda,” Shanta remembers.“This opened the door to a whole other world of Art as I know it today; from booking Ad campaigns for Tuskerlite, Bell Lager, and Club to working with various music artists both internationally and locally as a dance act in music videos.”She broadened her early dance career, re-learning and becoming a physical fitness instructor in schools. When the COVID-19 pandemic loomed, Shanta used her talent and experience to conduct community fitness exercise programs.Inspirations“My inspiration greatly varies sometimes. It’s how I feel and my surroundings and at times it’s the great art around me like The Tabu Flow, Levy Elasu, Kinjaz, Muiz, and Baracka Dancers among many others.Working With Top ArtistsThe bubbly Shanta has worked with some of the biggest music names in Uganda’s music industry, dancing in their music videos as a vixen and doing numerous dance challenges in the promotion of their songs on different social media platforms. “Being around so many creative minds, I gradually found myself growing from Hiphop that emanated out of my body effortlessly and launching deeper in myself tapping into different dance disciplines like African contemporary, urban style, and Afro among others.Some of the top videos in which Shanta has featured include:Don’t Go Alone – Aloe BlaccBuba – Maurice KiryaKimuli Kyange – Vinka ft. MudraOmuti – Charly na NinaTweyagale – Eddy KenzoetcStage PerformancesIf you have caught Shanta performing on the stage, her energy is unmissable. She is also credited for her effortless interaction with the audience, making her an easy choice for most artists. She regards these as her top performances:Worked with Sheebah Karungi at her two-day Concert at Kampala Serena Hotel in 2022The Sheebah vs Cindy Sanyu Battle at Kololo Independence Grounds in 2023Sheebah’s Neyanziza concert in 2024 (as her head dancer)Rema Namakula’s Clear concert in 2020B2C Entertainment’s first concert in 2018Iryn Namubiru’s Timeless concert in 2024Spice Diana’s 2023 concert at Lugogo Cricket OvalLife Beyond DanceWhen she is not swaying her body across the stage at a music concert, Shanta is busy pursuing her other passions in Acting and Theatrical Plays.“Aside from the commercial stages and concerts, I also had an opportunity to feature in theatrical pieces which was greatly impacted by the awarded certified training acquired from the Batalo East academy that meets traditional dance style with urban dance style.“I worked with more grounded and professional choreographers and dance teachers opening my mind to more technical knowledge about dance under the UMDA dance network programme by UNESCO. I was among the 5 cast members in NAMBI; The Shield Maidens dance piece that was showcased at the National Theater of Uganda.Shanta has also previously performed the “Gemini” dance piece at the Batalo East amphitheater in Butaleja under the AMDA Ignite Culture program by Soul-Xpressions. She participated and won in the Sprite Rakas dance competition as the 1st runner-up.She choreographed a duo dance piece in 2023 titled “HER”, and showcased it on different platforms and forms, and to date, she is still in the movement to create more awareness for it. “Currently, I have been attaching myself to deeper crafts, creating deeper African contemporary pieces,” she tells Mbu.I am also an Actor currently featuring in a TV series ‘Tying the knot’ which is yet to premiere. I featured in the movie ‘Destiny’ which showed on Maisha Magic.Shanta She juggles responsibilities as an administrative officer (online practitioner) working for Kyamdanto couriers based in Köln, Germany.What Pushes You Every Day?“A constant need for self-betterment, to position myself for better and broader avenues of Art that I know are out there, and calling out to me greatly keeps me going every day. And of course the simple but great things like family, love, and the Gospel,” she says.Future PlansShanta’s plans have Art in her best interests. She aims to teach more younger people her kind of dance and showcase it on bigger stages and platforms.I want to make Art that speaks to me more and be very intentional about how it is perceived. Putting myself out there like never before.I continue sharing my Art and craft with others through teaching my kind of dance or showcasing and feeding people’s eyes and souls – moving along the lines of educative, purpose, and soul. So help me God.The ENDThe post Shanta Kawesa’s Journey: Dance, Top Performances, Acting And Beyond appeared first on MBU.