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Catherine Nakawesa aka Kasalina is a Ugandan Choreographer / Dancer, Writer and Creative Coach.

She is the Founder/Creative Director, ORAQO Arts, a production house for Dance, Film and related arts. 

An alumna of Ecole des Sable, Senegal 2011/2013 and DanceWEB 2013 scholar, Catherine's works are a hybrid of a rich African heritage and global exposure.

Her creations include Afrophone, the Prelude, performed at Afrolution Festival Berlin 2019; If I Had Wings which was first commissioned by Bayreuth Literature Festival 2017 and further developed & performed at La Briqueterie / Cité Internationale des Arts Paris 2019, with French Musician Bryan Chenna; Made in Shenzhen 2017, a collaboration with Chinese Maker Rachel Hu, Handshake 302 and Baishizou artists; Wekwekule, performed at Afrique Urban Arts Festival Abidjan 2015.

Kasalina is a laureate of L'Institut Français Visa pour la Creation 2019, Africa Centre AIR award 2016 and Danse l'Afrique Danse 2014.

Passionate about inspiring creative genius, Kasalina has served as a Creative Coach to teams including Empire Dance Kenya, for Nairobi Dance Life Festival 2021, Rwandese female dancers for East African Nights of Tolerance 2018 and worked with Mashirika Performing Arts & Media Company as Choreographer / Assistant Director in productions at Transform Africa Summit 2019 & Kwita Izina 2019.

She's a cofounder of Clay Dance Company, which mentors young people in Kampala through dance. 

Kasalina is currently developing ORAQO Arts' multi-disciplinary project, If I Had Wings.

She is passionate about convening great minds & hearts to translate ideas into superior artistic experiences that inspire humanity around the world.