THE FOUNDER AND THE OWNER OF AFRO DANCE SCHOOL
KABAKA ARAFAT
I am a Ugandan who has been living in the Netherlands since 2016. I am a positive thinker, confident, and highly ambitious person. I have developed mature and responsible approach skills to overcome any task that is available or cooperate with any situation of dance or theatre presented.
At the age of 18, I was invited to join a dance competition on NTV Uganda. After recognizing my talent in art and dance, the competition was broadcasted twice a week for 4 months. I became the winner of the NTV Uganda Hot Steps Dance Competition 2010, winning from over 1470 competitors from different districts of Uganda.
My achievement made me famous in the Ugandan community, and I got opportunities to travel to countries across Africa to perform theatre and give culture exchange programs. I visited countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Botswana, Congo, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Burundi, Rwanda, Egypt, Guinea, Malawi, Zambia, Namibia, Sudan, Somalia, Angola, Zimbabwe, and many more.
After my theatre journey in Africa, I continued my theatre tour in Europe where I visited a lot of theatres and schools giving culture dance exchange programs to the growing talent. I visited countries like France, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, etc. Performing in all those countries I end up meeting a lot of different people and learning a lot to become a professional art performer.
In 2021, I opened my own dance school called Studio Afro Ngoma, located in Gnephoek 44, 2401 LP Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands. We give lessons to young people to learn more about talent and career development. This is where we create our theatre shows to reach the world.
Arafat Segoma, also known as Kabaka Arafat, is a Ugandan-born dancer and choreographer recognized for his contributions to Afro-dance, hip-hop, and contemporary dance in both Uganda and the Netherlands.
Early Life and Career in Uganda
Kabaka Arafat Segoma's passion for dance bloomed early in life. At the age of 16, he gained national recognition by winning the "NTV Uganda Hot Steps" competition, a televised dance contest that ran for five months. This victory not only earned him a substantial cash prize of 5 million Ugandan shillings but also opened doors for international travel, performances, and workshops.
In 2016, Kabaka Arafat Segoma relocated to the Netherlands with his family. Two years later, he appeared on the Dutch television show "Dance Dance Dance," which helped him connect with the local dance community. Since then, he has participated in various dance battles and has taught at numerous schools and dance studios across the Netherlands and several European countries, including cities like Amsterdam, Haarlem, Amstelveen, Almere, Uithoorn, Nieuwkoop, Utrecht, Rotterdam, and The Hague. His classes are known for their energy and inclusivity, catering to students aged 15 and above.
STUDIO AFRO NGOMA DANCE SCHOOL.
Kabaka Arafat Segoma is the founder of Studio Afro Ngoma in Alphen aan den Rijn, a dance school offering high-quality lessons in various dance styles. The studio provides regular classes, monthly masterclasses with guest instructors, and outdoor lessons during the summer months. Its goal is to create a vibrant community space for dance enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. Beyond teaching,
Kabaka Arafat Segoma has represented Uganda in international dance competitions such as Juste Debout, a prestigious Hip-hop and street dance event, as well as the Dance Dance competition on RTL4 Dutch TV and Red Bull dance battles. His performances showcase his versatility and commitment to the art form.
Kabaka Arafat Segoma – A Journey Through Dance
from the streets of Uganda to the stages of the Netherlands, Kabaka Arafat Segoma has always danced to the rhythm of his own heartbeat. For him, dance isn’t just movement—it’s a language, a way to connect, inspire, and bring people together.
As a young teenager in Uganda, Arafat discovered his gift for dance. At just 16, he entered NTV Uganda’s Hot Steps, a televised dance competition, and won, earning not only the prize but a realization: dance was his calling. With each step, spin, and beat, he felt alive, and he knew he wanted to share that feeling with the world.
Driven by passion and a vision, he founded Dance Industry Uganda, a dance school that grew to over 1,500 members. Through his teaching, he didn’t just create dancers he built a community where creativity, confidence, and joy flourished.
In 2016, Arafat’s journey brought him to the Netherlands, where he continued to dance, teach, and inspire. His appearance on DANCE DANCE DANCE in 2018 introduced him to a new audience and helped him bring Afro-dance to classrooms, studios, and stages across the country.
Today, at Studio Afro Ngoma, Kabaka Arafat Segoma guides students of all ages to find their own rhythm, express themselves, and embrace the power of movement. His philosophy is simple: dance is more than a performance it is a tool for confidence, creativity, and community. Every class he teaches, every performance he gives, carries the same message: through dance, we are connected. Through dance, we are free.
Kabaka – Dancing for a Better World
Kabaka Arafat Segoma is more than a dancer he is a creator, mentor, and cultural ambassador. From Uganda to the Netherlands, he has shared the power of movement with thousands, teaching not just steps, but confidence, joy, and self-expression.
He is known for his passion, discipline, and generosity. Whether leading a workshop, performing on stage, or guiding students in the studio, Kabaka inspires everyone around him to believe in themselves and embrace their talents.
His mission on Earth is clear: to bring people together through dance, creativity, and culture. Kabaka believes that movement can heal, empower, and unite, breaking barriers between cultures and communities. Through his work, he strives to help people discover their own rhythm, their own voice, and their own light.
Dance is not just for the body it’s for the soul. My purpose is to help people feel alive, confident, and connected to themselves and the world around them.
With every class, every performance, and every smile he inspires, Kabaka Arafat Segoma reminds us that dance is a language we all can speak and a gift we all can share.
It builds confidence, balance, coordination, and physical strength while improving mental clarity and emotional wellbeing. As the body grows stronger, the spirit rises. Through dance, we reconnect with our self-worth and rediscover the beauty of who we are.
Dance connects us.
Dance is energy. Dance is medicine.
Dance is a language the soul understands when words are not enough.From the moment we move our bodies, something awakens inside us. The rhythm enters our bloodstream, the music touches our heart, and suddenly we remember that we are alive. Dance invites us back into ourselves —back into the present moment, back into our power.
Dance heals.
It releases stress, pain, fear, and trauma stored deep within the body. What the mind holds onto, the body remembers — and through movement, we gently let it go. Each step becomes a release, each breath becomes lighter, each movement opens space for peace and renewal.
Dance Is Life in Motion
It breaks barriers of language, culture, age, and background. When we dance together, we become one heartbeat, one rhythm, one energy. In that shared movement, we feel seen, accepted, and understood. Dance creates community, belonging, and love.
Dance is joy.
It reminds us to smile, to laugh, to play, and to celebrate life. It brings happiness into the body and peace into the mind. Even on heavy days, dance gives us light. Even in difficult times, dance gives us hope.
Dance is freedom.
There are no mistakes in movement only expression. You do not need perfection, experience, or approval. You only need to show up as you are. Dance welcomes every body, every story, every emotion.
When you dance, you grow.
You heal old wounds. You release trauma. You build confidence. You express love. You transform pain into power and movement into meaning.
EVEN VOORSTELLEN
Wij zijn Studio Afro Ngoma, de enige echte Afro dansschool in Alphen aan den Rijn. In september 2021 openen wij onze deuren in een wel bijna 400 jaar oude (voormalige)boerderij. Ruim 10 jaar geleden, fungeerde de dansruimte nog als kaasmakerij. Nu is het een plek om elkaar te ontmoeten in de liefde voor dans.
Gespecialiseerd in Afro dansstijlen, brengen wij je een stukje Afrika. Dansen uit vreugde en niet prestatie, dat is waar het allemaal om draait. Wij geven kwaliteitslessen aan iedereen van 4 jaar en ouder.
Houd je van snelheid? van diversiteit? van lekker los gaan en alles geven? of geniet je van dansen?
Wij zijn dé plek waar jij de pure vreugde van Afro dans beleeft en je authentieke zelf mag laten stralen.
We hebben één dansruimte die we het hele jaar door gebruiken. Eenmaal per maand geven we ook masterclasses van gastdocenten. Dit kan verschillen van een Bachata/Salsa les tot aan een yogales.
HET VERHAAL ACHTER STUDIO AFRO NGOMA
By names of kabaka Arafat Segoma
I come from Uganda “ Dancing is a part of me. Over the years i have experienced that this is my shining light. It made me win many dance competitions in my home country. When i became 16 i won the biggest of all: “The NTV Uganda Hot steps”. It was broadcasted on TV for 5 months. By winning this competition i was given 5 million Ugandan shillings. This event changed my whole dancing experience: i became known and so i was asked to travel to many countries all over the world. To perform or to give workshops”. - Kabaka Arafat.
NTV Uganda Hot Steps
Kabaka met zijn prijs.
In 2016 is hij naar Nederland verhuisd om met zijn gezin te komen wonen. Twee jaar later heeft hij in de uitzending van ´DANCE DANCE DANCE´ gedanst. Hier heeft hij de Nederlandse dans community ontmoet.
Sindsdien begon hij zijn reis door de danswereld van Nederland. Zo deed hij mee aan verschillende battles en vond uiteindelijk zijn weg in het lesgeven. Dit deed hij op middelbare scholen en diverse dansscholen in Noord- en Zuid-Holland (Amsterdam, Haarlem, Amstelveen, Almere, Uithoorn, Nieuwkoop, Utrecht, Rotterdam en Den Haag).
Bij deze lessen werd hij vaak benaderd door de kinderen en ouders met de vraag of hij niet meer lessen kon geven. Dit heeft hem het zelfvertrouwen gegeven om te dromen van zijn eigen dansschool in Nederland.
In Oeganda was hij al eerder eigenaar van zijn eigen dansschool : Dance Industry Uganda, met meer dan 1500 leden in scholen en communities.
“Now i started a new journey in Alphen aan den Rijn, to empower the Afro dance movement for all people. My dream is that people from different cultures, tribes and nationalities come together to activate our creativity together as a new world.
Dancing has been a light in self development and (spiritual) healing for others and myself. It has also been a weapon in understanding the world language of creativity and motivation. Through dancing i met and helped a lot of people. By teaching i boost their creativity and self confidance. It gives me a lot of joy, to see people expanding in confidance and exploring their talent”.- Kabaka Arafat.
….. MAAR WAAROM STUDIO AFRO NGOMA ?
Ngoma betekend “grote drum” in het Oegandees. Dit is de naam van de stam waar Kabaka van afstamt. Met onze studio hopen we met de “grote drum” een klank van creativiteit door te laten klinken door alle hoeken en uiteinden om mensen thuis te laten komen in dans.