by Jewel Stephen

The QDanceCenter, a social enterprise using artistic competence and creative energy, as a strategy for development solutions, has unveiled its latest brainchild; DANCING CITIES. A unique dance competition where 12 dance groups/crews compete to win 2 Million Naira cash prize + scholarship for International training/mentorship, to be awarded to the dancers of the year in December 2015.

DANCING CITIES will spread its activities all year round, the qualifying series moves from one community to another every trimester. It is to be a veritable confluence of various dance forms/styles, whether you are into hip hop or ballet, ballroom or krump, contemporary or traditional dance styles, the criteria for judging is in the level of creativity and innovation in delivery.

The EXCITEMENT that DANCING CITIES brings, will create a shift in emphasis and will eventually result in an upsurge in a new network of young creative dancers, who have something they are seriously focused on and cares dearly for.

The objective of DANCING CITIES is to Engage young people in creative endeavors. To build on their confidence and self-realization. To create excitement and social cohesion within the community through dance. To take dance away from its present spaces of influence and be a part of the social life of the cityscape.

Why we think this is necessary at this moment is because there are approximately 64 million young Nigerians below the age of 35. 34 million among them are unemployed. Dancing as a passionate exercise has proven to be a highly relevant endeavour that creates concrete engagement for young people. The amount of creativity presently brewing in the creative industries, combined with the youthful energy bestowed upon the myriads of dance enthusiasts in Nigeria, is a practical affirmation of endless POSSIBILITIES.

Here, we are adopting a proactive approach to this situation, because it is the only way to take charge of the future. Ignoring or trivializing it can be costly.

CALL FOR ENTRIES.

Application for the first edition of DANCING CITIES is now on. To be eligible you must present a dance performance that is no longer than 10 minutes, each group must consist of 2 to 10 dancers on stage.

Towards our effort to award the top three dance groups who will go home with the 2 Million Naira cash prize, we shall host three preliminary DANCING CITIES every quarter in accessible spaces, within various communities where communal activities already take place, such as football fields, playing grounds, car parks, community centres etc.

The debut edition will hold in march 2015 “DANCING CITIES Yaba”, then in June “DANCING CITIES Oshodi” thereafter “DANCING CITIES Festac” in September. In each of these cities we shall select the top four dance crews/groups, each crew/group get a financial support to perfect their piece, with a possibility of using our studio space with an assigned mentor choreographer in preparation for the Grand finale to happen on 26 December 2015, where awards and cash prizes shall be given. At the Grand Finale in December 1 male and 1 female dancer of the year will get a cash prize and also enjoy an international scholarship for further dance training/mentorship abroad.

 

APPLICATION.

To register your group/crew, log on to WWW.QDANCECENTER.COM and fill in the online application no later than 28 February 2015. Any application that comes in after the deadline will not be accepted.

Audition dates are 7^th and 14^th of March 2015, While DANCING CITIES Yaba will hold on 28 March 2015. Check our website, call 08120235336 or write us at [email protected] for further enquiries.