There is so much grief coming out of Africa that it's good to report something upbeat for a change. Partially in order to raise awareness of the ravages of civil war and Aids, which have left an estimated 2.4m orphans, Empower African Children, a company of youngsters aged from eight to 18, is touring a relentlessly cheerful show of dances and music from Uganda, with numbers from some of its neighbours, Congo, Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya.
The dynamic host, artistic director and performer Peter Kasule, whose energy sets the pace for his dancers and singers, can also galvanise an audience into dancing in its seats. A thunder of drums precedes the curtain, which rises on a stage alive with colourfully costumed dancers and singers, their hips encircled by grass skirts like ruffs - a sort of Ugandan tutu - worn over skirts or trousers. Often in these dances huge bows or bunches of fabric emphasise the fast hip shimmy that's a staple step along with stamping, hopping and swivelling. Think of a souped-up Twist, that social dance of the 1960s, and you get the idea.
