Africa-Press – Seychelles. Seychelles has been chosen to host the first ever All-African Artistic Dance Championships which will take place over the weekend at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel where non-elite and masters in artistic dance will clash in a showdown.
In a press conference yesterday morning, Dr Lucia Banane, a member of World Artistic Dance Federation Seychelles, announced that the World Artistic Dance Federation (WADF) in collaboration with the Seychelles National Institute of Culture Heritage and the Arts (Snicha), and the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) will be organising the dance championships on September 1 and 2 and they are expecting around 200 dancers from across six nations.
Dr Banane, who is also a performer, also mentioned that the dance championships will cover different dance genres.
On the first day, the competition, which is scheduled from 11am to 6pm, will focus on Afro beat combats, hip hop, urban and traditional forms of dance whereas the second day, scheduled from 11am to 11pm, emphasis will be more on classical, ball room and Latin dance.
Dr Banane added that there will be a welcoming ceremony on the second day at 6pm to welcome the guests to the All-African Artistic Dance Championships and stated that there will be 13 international personnel who will be among the technical team including the president of WADF, Sir Nils-Hakan Carlzon.
She said the championship will be classified into different categories namely mini-kids from 4 years and above, juveniles from 9 to 12 years, juniors, youths and adults and lastly masters which is from the age of 35 years and above.
Dr Banane added that discussions to have Seychelles as host took place during the last visit of WADF president, Nils-Hakan Carlzo to the country.
“Sir Nils came to examine us and met with Minister Marie-Celine Zialor and WADF Seychelles where we agreed for Seychelles to host the championships,” said Dr Banane.
She added that although it is an All-African Championship the competition is open to the world and they are expecting dancers from the Philippines and Serbia.
Two other teams, namely Russia and South Africa, have confirmed their participation and are already in the country.
Dr Banane added that another big group from South Africa and Botswana have withdrawn their participation due to lack of sponsors and funds to travel as Seychelles is an expensive destination.
“We received interest from four African countries but so far two have confirmed their participation, a group from South Africa and Ghana,” she noted, adding that they will have a better picture of the number of participants after the registration and orientation takes place today.
Dr Banane shared that there will be two Seychellois judges for the championships and they will be attending a short seminar tomorrow on the WADF guidelines before being exposed to international competition.
Tickets for the show cost R150 apiece and Dr Banane has urged the public to come and support Seychelles as it is expected to be an amazing spectacle.
“The tickets are at a reasonable cost so as to reach the majority of the public. So do come and see the different talents of our youths,” said Dr Banane.
In his statement, chief executive of the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC), Albert Duncan praised the initiative, which offers many benefits for the country and the youths.
“The SNYC this year is also emphasising on the professionalisation of arts in its quest to elevate the level of youths in the art sector in creative forms such as dance, films and art,” said CEO Duncan.
He added that the championships offer exchanges between different nations whereby the youths are being exposed to other international talents.
Snicha’s permanent secretary Cecile Kalebi, who was also present at the press conference, said Snicha is very proud to support the dance championships with WADF Seychelles.
“This August has been an exciting period for dance as you know the Biennial De Dance is ongoing as well and is scheduled to end on September 2. Now there is the All-African Artistic Dance Championships which also brings the youths together, promoting other forms of art in our mandate,” said Ms Kalebi.
She said in addition, the championships will serve as a tool for the young performers to measure their abilities against the international dancers.
“I wish all the participants and organisers of the competition especially Dr Banane and her team all the best in the championships,” concluded PS Kalebi.
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