The Ministry for Sports and Culture (MINISPOC) is looking for 100 fresh talents to be part of Rwanda’s premier cultural troupe ‘Urukerereza’ for the next two years.

In the past two weeks, the Ministry has held auditions in different parts of the country, in search of the best dancers, drummers and other traditional instrumentalists.

A total of 472 contestants from different cultural troupes turned up for the selection competitions held in Musanze District (Northern Province), Karongi in Western Province, Rwamagana in the East and Nyanza in Southern Province before concluding the auditions in Kigali.

Some of the contestants auditioning in Western Province. / Courtesy

The latter accumulated the highest number of contestants (192) during the auditions held recently at Amahoro National Stadium, Remera.

Masamba Intore, one of the ballet’s senior trainers, told The New Times that competition has been tight among the contestants aspiring to be part of the new generation of the national ballet, but insists that the jury is experienced and able to select the best.

"Rwanda has plenty of talent in traditional performances and the competition is stiff as we look for a new traditional group. We are looking for the best of the best in their respective cultural troupes so we can easily link them up during the boot camp before they start exclusive traditional performances,” he said.

The selection is done every two years to discover new traditional performers to give a chance to showcase their skills.

Prior to the selection, each of the cultural troupes nationwide recommended the best performers to the Ministry so they can compete at the national level and get a chance to be part of the national ballet’s group for the next two years.

"We are already done with auditions and we will announce those who passed for the finals this weekend,” Masamba revealed.

He added that members of the ballet also have a chance to compete to continue with it for the next two years, although having previously been part of the ballet does not guarantee them a place.

"A competition is a competition and contestants have equal chances. No one is chosen because of their experience, rather, their skills and talent,” he said.

The best 100 contestants will be announced at the grand finale slated for this weekend (Saturday and Sunday) at Amahoro National Stadium, Remera.

The Ministry will later organise a two-day boot camp slated for November 13 to 14 where winning contestants will be trained on the national ballet’s code of conducts and traditional performance rehearsals.

As a national ballet, Urukerereza is regarded as a troupe in which the best dancers from different cultural troupes nationwide meet and make up a team that not only represents the country in different cultural events, locally and internationally, but also entertains the audience at the national level. 

editor@newtimesrwanda.com