Rwandan Ballet Gives Audience Taste of Hope

KIGALI, Rwanda — Massacre survivors, rebel sympathizers and a former refugee danced in the opening-night performance of the National Ballet of Rwanda--the country’s first cultural event since ethnic slaughter erupted in April.

“Everyone’s really happy to be here, but the guards make people a little uncomfortable,” Aimable Gahutu, a member of the audience, said of gun-toting government soldiers who frisked all arrivals at the door Wednesday night.

The highlights of the evening’s performance at the French cultural center were one-footed, high-speed hops and comic facial expressions of the Pygmy dancers, who drew wild applause from the audience of about 500.

In attendance was new Vice President and Defense Minister Paul Kagame.