NOSA 2007 REFLECTIONS

Name: Janet Karen Ntwatwa
Status: Former Namasagali College Student
Residence: Rhode Island, USA

Class of 1994

What started out as a joke dinner conversation with a couple of friends finally become a dream come true. I do remember a few people bouncing the idea around about a NOSA get together…it sounded like it would be fun! Boy was it ever!!!!

PAUSE! STOP! REWIND!!!

Let’s get back to the meetings and the preparations aaaaaand the dance classes…whoosh! Boy did we go through some drama and fun filled moments!!! I guess the Boston Crew will always have CHARACTERS BAR/LOUNGE. I remember trying out for the dances…(Dare I say, my whole Sags duration I was up for all the “Stage Acting” but NEVER “the dancing”… now FAST FORWARD to today…here Iam 20 somin’ weeks pregnant and trying out for the dances. Most of my buddies hooted in laughter when I told them, while others turned green around the gills (with horror)…visualizing Janet doing an “Arrow base” and the “HURRY BOY!!!”…I had a blast!!! I couldn’t for the life of me tell a soul in my family lest someone got an apoplexy just thinking of their rolly polly sister in a leotard doing a split (…wishful thinking J).

What most people may not know was that we decided to do the dancing 7-8 weeks before the actual NOSA do. Hehehe…we didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into! Before we knew it, it was 3 weeks before the “do” and we were still struggling with ALL the dances. We all made a mutual agreement to meet 3 times a week (twice during the week and one day of the weekend). If anyone has been preggo before, you would be groaning right now. Darn straight! I was too!!! I had to commute from Rhode Island to Boston for all the practices, and we never ever left before 2am… NEVER!!! EVER!!!! For that alone, I really thank the Boston dance Crew…of course it took a toll but we all worked it out. The last week before NOSA 07 we decided to showcase what we had…what better place than…the ABDU MULASI CONCERT (as curtain raisers)….LOL….who did you think…P-DIDDY??? Not quite yet but give us time…Yap ABDU it was…I know most of you are shrieking but…hey, we did it for the publicity and to see how stage “Ready” we were. People loved us! Yes they did! A few sly (bordering on sleazy) comments from the MC and the crowd was won over ...the leotards people the leotards did it for them…the things we do in the name of NOSA ’07 (sigh!).

I barely remember that whole weekend, it moved in fast forward. The fun part was I finally got to see people I had not seen in years…bullied most of my big brothers to make it to NOSA and yes I got to meet good ol’ Father Grimes again…rephrase…Mellow Father Grimes…who actually gave me a hug (gulp!)…I bet most of you who remember “NTWATWA” in her not so funky Sags glory…there was no way Father would have given me a hug…10yrs or so ago( has it been that long??)…the little HORRORS we were! Buuuut…I digress!

The Friday night (ka-danke) a sheer delight. I got to see most of the people that night, danced the night away…I actually did the “running-man”…we re-capped all the dances of way back when, from Break dancing to “SQUEEZE”. I missed Mass (on Saturday) but made it for Conference, till the little bump screamed in hunger so had to dash out for a quick bite. I got to wear my “REEVE” ribbon again (Assistant Lady High…If I may say so…Oh yes I was…my classmates do remember!). I think I had the most fun at the Hillie Billy Party….BELTON…he really cracked me up…I have not laughed so hard!!! MJ/ MC HAMMER (Musa)…, TK, We are the World…I cannot wait for the DVD to come out.

My feet were the size tree-trunks with roots by Saturday night…I could not wear my flats and so wore sandals the whole night…with an evening dress…(ah the evening dress that would not zipper-up…no thanks to the belly that grew overnite…naye Maureen M and the 1517 designers…the magicians that you are-thank you! By the time Sunday rolled around…I was teetering on the last droplets of adrenaline…the BBQ…the BBQ…we were supposed to have a sports day…but nooo…everyone was tired and just wanted to relax…ME 2! It was over way too soon. I could not believe the weekend was over.

What can I say…NOSA 07 was a blast from the past!