Ugandan dancer and actor Valentino Richard Kabenge will this weekend hit the big stage in Lagos, Nigeria for an acting talent show.
Valentino was picked with five others for the talent showcase hosted by An Actors Playhouse, an acting training academy founded by veteran Nollywood actress Stella Damasus.
While Valentino is most known as a Latin dancer and choreographer (famous for his NTV hit show “Dance with Valentino”), he has over the years been honing his acting skills.
Last year, he joined Stella’s acting masterclass, studying online. He talks of the revered Nigerian actress as his biggest childhood inspiration.
“Growing up I used to watch a lot of Nigerian movies on Top TV this is why I sought out acting. Stella is one of the actresses that I admire. I especially loved her movies Romantic Attraction, Real Love, and Behind Closed Doors. I used to narrate her movies in primary school,” he said.
Upon arrival in Nigeria, he described his first-ever meeting with Stella as “a big dream come true.” “Ladies and gentlemen, I am in the presence of greatness, the legendary Nollywood’s Stella Damasus, and I still don’t have the perfect reaction yet,” he posted on Instagram.
The talent showcase is slated for Saturday, June 15th, 2024 in Lagos. Valentino and the five other performers will have the opportunity to perform for and network with some of the biggest industry professionals, from Directors to Producers, Agents, and Casting Directors.
“I look at this as an opener for different collaborations and projects in Nigeria,” Valentino says. “I admire the Nigerians because of their assertiveness and how they go all out. My ambition is to create and extend my brand to Nigeria and to invite some of them to Uganda.”
Outside of acting, Valentino also hopes to land collaborations with some of the big names in the Nigerian music industry.
He desires to work with artists such as Yemi Alade, Davido, and Beninian songstress Angelique Kidjo. Valentino has featured in some big music videos in Uganda, including Winnie Nwagi’s 2020 hit song Jangu, Rema Namakula’s Touch My Body, and recently Iryn Namubiru’s Tegutta.