Guild Wants April 29 Declared As National Dance Day

Steve James, the immediate past President of GOND, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on the sidelines of activities to mark the 2018 Dance Day.

The Dance Guild of Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to declare April 29 as National Dance Day in Nigeria.
Steve James, the immediate past President of GOND, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on the sidelines of activities to mark the 2018 Dance Day.
NAN reports that GOND is an affiliate of the National Association of Theatre Arts Practitioners of Nigeria.
James said that the call had become imperative following recommendations at the Foreign Service Public Lecture that Nigeria’s foreign policy should reflect feats being attained in the entertainment industry and sports.
He said that the usage of dance as a form of entertainment had become imperative because the nation’s foreign policy and cultural identity needed to be relevant to modernity.
According to him, the celebration of the International Dance Day could be achieved in Nigeria if government creates a platform for people to come together to mark it.
He said: “It is key for government to legalise it; there are many people out there who just dance for the sake of dancing, never knowing that dance can become a source of income.
“I think that government should harness dance as a form of entertainment to create employment for the teeming youths who graduate from university and wait for white collar jobs.
“We need to begin to see dance not just as hobby, but a profession because people even study it globally as a course in the university.
“Government can explore dance to promote peace, culture and regional cooperation as well as in the telling of traditional stories about Nigeria’s history and promotion of foreign policy.
“The celebration of Dance Day will benefit us pleasurably and professionally; it is by our dances the world will know who we are, what we are and the richness of our culture.’’
He identified the failure to recognise the potentials inherent in celebration of dance as hindering people from harnessing the several opportunities available.
James, however, advised people to always see dance as alternative means for income generation rather than waiting for monthly salaries.
NAN reports that the day was established in 1982 by UNESCO to celebrate the post-humus birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727 -1810), the creator of the modern ballet.

https://theeagleonline.com.ng/guild-wants-april-29-declared-as-national-dance-day/

First off, EKOGOND will be kick starting the IDD or WDD week with
an ADVOCACY ROUND-TABLE Event.

THEME:
WELFARE: THE CREATIVE ARTISTES' SECURITY

DATE:
WEDNESDAY, 25TH APRIL 2018

TIME: 1:00 PM

VENUE:
CORPORATE DANCE WORLD STUDIO, BEHIND CONOIL FILLING STATION, ERIC MOORE ROAD, SURULERE, LAGOS, NIGERIA.

OTHER EKOGOND PRE-WORLD DANCE ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE

The under listed Pre-WDD activities will take place in 5 EKOGOND Chapels simultaneously.

1. OWOROSHOKI ARTISTES FORUM

- APRIL 22nd:
Novelty Match
Oworonshoki Artistes Vs Bariga Artistes Forum.

APRIL 23rd:
Artistes Hangout and performances.

2. SURULERE ARTISTES FORUM*

- DATE: 26TH OF APRIL
* Dance Workshops
* Meeting with dance icons, EKOGOND Executive and Performances by dance companies

3. BARIGA ARTISTES FORUM*

The Bariga Open Arts Theatre (BOAT) Festival.

DATES: 26TH – 28TH APRIL
* Seminars
* Workshops
* Art Exhibitions
* Boat Regatta
* Cultural Festival
* Seaside Cottage Theatre Commissioning and more.

5. IKORODU ARTISTES FORUM

27TH APRIL:
Awareness Walks and Talks.

6. AJEGUNLE THEATRE ARTISTES FORUM

DATE: 25th APRIL 2018
Open Air Performance tagged "STREET RAZZMATAZZ"

DATE: 27th APRIL
Dance Workshops

- Dance Workshop Facilitators:
*VICTOR PHULLU EREBIFA
*UCHE AUGUSTINE ONAH

DATE: 28TH APRIL 2018
- Seminar

Seminar Facilitators:
*BIMBO OBAFUNWA
*ICE NWEKE

GRAND FINALE:
29 APRIL, 2018.

EKOGOND HOSTS THE LAGOS STATE (NIGERIA) DANCE INDUSTRY TO AN EVENING OF FUN, DANCE AND GOODWILL.

VENUE: OBA OF BARIGA PALACE, BARIGA, LAGOS.

EKOGOND celebrates World Dance Day in Bariga

As the world gears up toward celebrating dancers on the 29th of April, 2018, which is the International Dance Day, Nigeria is not left out in the buzz gently heralding the excitements in the hearts of dancers in the industry.

The Lagos State Chapter of the Guild of Nigerian Dancers (EKOGOND) is therefore leaving no stones unturned in preparation for the day.

Announcing this in a statement, the Chairman of EKOGOND, Ugo Obiayo-Ademoye, informed that the WDD 2018 will be marked with various activities, where all dance practitioners in Lagos State will be given opportunity to exhibit their crafts and connect with other allied practices.

She said the week-long Pre-WDD activities begins today, Wednesday, 25th April 2018, with EkoGOND Advocacy Round-table titled, “Welfare: The Creative Artistes’ Security”. The event holds at the Corporate Dance World Studio, Eric Moore Road, Surulere, Lagos.

“The Advocacy Round-table will have some notable names in the industry in attendance.

“In line with the mandate of structural adjustment pervading the entire entertainment industry, EKOGOND has taken the initiative to firm up its membership structures. To this end, the celebration of this year’s WDD in Bariga, alongside the Bariga Open Arts Theatre – BOAT event is to particularly underscore the need to empower the “down stream” sector of the dance industry in the suburb while looking to a brighter future. These suburbs are also tagged, Arts Forum. The Arts Forums are also known as Chapels.”

According to her, this initiative becomes important so ensure the works of the Guild are felt closer home and to foster greater bonds amongst artistes in Lagos State. “Within the last three months, six chapels have been activated; Ikorodu, oworonshoki, Bariga, Surulere Ajegunle, Lagos Island and Lekki /Ajah.”

Source: https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/04/ekogond-celebrates-world-dance-day-in-bariga/