The Nation Newspaper

Tag: DANCERS

  • Dancers to represent Nigeria in US

    An Abuja based dance group, Elevatorz NG, has won the 2019 World of Dance Competition. The group has qualified to represent Nigeria at the grand finale scheduled to take place later this year in Los Angeles, United States of America. It stands a chance of winning one million dollars in cash prize if it  goes ahead to conquer the world.

    The group conquered the stage, defeating other dance groups that emerged from regional championships across Nigeria.

    World of Dance competition, acclaimed to be the biggest dance competition in the world with music and movie goddess, Jennifer Lopez as the producer, features variety of dance groups across music genres.

    Elevatorz NG  was formed in 2010 by students in the Department of Theatre and Cultural Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

    The group has been widely recognised in the Nigerian Dance industry, having won Sprite Triple Slam in 2011, Korean Pop competition (K-POP PR Ambassador) 2012 and finalists at the Nigeria Got Talent Season 2 in 2013.

    It also produced the winner of Dance with Peter in 2015 and has many other awards to its honour. In 2017 Elevatorz NG initiated a dance style called “Trado HipHop” which enjoyed full acceptance from audience and critics within and across the country, leading to her debut concert and official launch of the crusade.

  • National Assembly not for dancers, says Hussain

    The National Assembly is not for dancers, All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate for the July 8 by-election in Osun West Senatorial District, Senator Mudashiru Oyetunde Husain, has said.

    In a statement at the weekend by his media office in Osogbo, the state capital, Hussain said the legislative job at the National Assembly is so crucial to the nation’s development that no senatorial district could afford to send those he describes as comedians or street dancers to either chamber as their representatives.

    He said his main challenger, Otunba Ademola Adeleke, does not have the qualities a senator needs to represent a sophisticated constituency like Osun West at the National Assembly.

    Hussain said he remained the man to beat in the election, adding that he towers above other contestants by several parameters.

    The Ejigbo-born candidate urged the electorate in Osun West Senatorial District to support him “with their votes at the polls to ensure continuous and quality representation in the National Assembly”.

    The senator pledged to impact Osun West residents and the state, if elected.

  • Davido has no right to send dancers off stage – Kaffy

    Davido has no right to send dancers off stage – Kaffy

    Following the scene at the 3Thrones concert, which was held recently; where Davido asked dancers to go off the stage, award winning dancer Kafayat  Oluwatoyin Shafau popularly known as Kaffy, speaking on behalf of dancers in Nigeria, noted that all dancers are professionals in their own field and deserve to be respected as any other person in the entertainment scene.

    According to the Kaffy, the dancers who have been practicing for weeks for the 3thrones, concert did not deserve the humiliation put on them by the artiste.

    Using profanities to address Davido in a video she posted on her Instagram page, she stated: “This message is for Omo Baba Olowo, it is unethical and unprofessional. I see up to 50 dancers practicing for the show that you have collected millions for, and they are being paid peanuts, only for you to tell them you don’t need them. They are human beings too.

    “And this goes out to all other artistes, where was your gut some years back on that same stage, when you were performing to people. Now that people are now screaming your name; Una don feel say, una no need dancers again.”

    She added that Davido could have found a way of communicating with the dancers, “if u don’t want dancers, express it way before you agree to allow them dance, than when you are about to climb the stage and tell them you need them again or tell dancers not to come near you while u perform.”

    Following the outburst by the dancer, she later apologised for her choice of words.

    “I want to start by apologising profusely for my profanity,” Kaffy said.

    “It’s not how I roll. I am one person who promotes discipline and respect among dancers towards their clients and one another.

    “However this issue is real. We matter and deserve respect as we have become part of the building block of the entertainment world. We communicate with our bodies what words and sound can’t express. We paint a picture that defies laws of nature and produce masterpieces beyond mere imaginations. It requires a lot of brain power to begin to be a dancer not to talk of the ability to command muscles people can’t imagine using and that is still underrating the Power of the Art of Dance.

    Stating further, “So it is time we take control and have a voice. Create structure that will protect us from further disrespect and I will do all in my power to continue to protect dancers. I know great minds out there in our world that will rise up too. It’s been years and I have been quiet for too long.”

  • ‘REASON DANCERS ARE NOT RESPECTED’

    ‘REASON DANCERS ARE NOT RESPECTED’

    Multi-talented songwriter, singer, dancer and guitarist, Samuel Yakubu, has been musically inclined since childhood. Armed with A Mix Tape and Some, the X3M music artiste says that his mission is to take over the industry. He speaks with OVWE MEDEME on sundry issues.

    WHAT has your musical journey been like? Whatever you do in life, you’ve got to know that it is not easy. You have to keep moving on and keep relationship with the right people. There are always good and bad times, but you have to appreciate each one that comes your way. It is like building a business, you have to plan and get your clienteles, build your own brand and make people understand that your brand is your identity so that they can relate with your brand. But music for me hasn’t been easy, you know.

    A couple of northern based artistes have made a difference in the music industry. Do you think they have set a standard that is too high for you?

    I don’t think any standard is too high for me. I feel like if you know who you are and know what you want to achieve you can achieve it. My policy is to stick to whom and what you are. That is a standard. The thing is like saying that the sun burns but the moon doesn’t. And the moon doesn’t shine because the sun burns and that is why it shines. But you have to know that the sun and moon are created for different purposes, but they all shine with different functions. Even the star shines too.

    That is philosophical. Does any of that reflect in your music?

    I read a lot and I like philosophy, so it’s about music and a bit philosophy.

    You used to be a dancer…

    You know, back in the days when I first moved to Lagos six years ago, all my performances had dancers who I would dance with. I think a lot of times dancers are not respected as much as it should be because people don’t really see the value. They see dancers as stage fillers, but I think dancers can be maximized; if you take for example, people like Michael Jackson, Chris Brown, their dancers are actually stars on their own because they dance for them.

    So, how long have you been into music?

    Professionally, I will have to say seven years, but actively I can say I have been into music for five years.

    Why did it take so long?

    I feel that growing is very important. When I started, I didn’t know how to write music in Pidgin English; I would only sing in proper English. When I started, if you heard my Yoruba music it was laughable. I was bad in writing music in Yoruba language. But over time, I realised that no matter what style of music you do, as long as you are a Nigerian you need to bring creativity into your music so as to relate with people (audience) otherwise you are not making music.

    Can you tell us your genre of music?

    My genre of music is R&B (Rhythm and Blues) but I have been able to infuse afro local into it. I have a lot of respect for commercial music.

    Is it because commercial music rakes in more money?

    No. it’s not that. But I want to tell you that if you are not creative, you can’t make commercial music. Seriously! For people to dance to your first, second, third and songs, it really shows you are a creative artiste. I have a lot of respect for commercial music. You can’t just make money with something that has no commercial value at all.

    Can you tell us your staying power?

    My staying power is one of the things I mentioned earlier, that is, my performances. I feel that my voice is unique. I have met many people who tell me that my songs are beautiful. It makes me appreciate more of what I have. I think my general overview about my life is that I am always learning; I feel that if I want to make music for the next forty years, I will still make good music. I don’t think there should be any point that I should stop learning. My staying power is my ability to live forever young.

    Tell us your educational background?

    I had my primary/secondary education in Kaduna. And I studied Software Engineering in ABTECH, where I did my higher education.

    What is the connection between software engineering and music?

    I think hard work connects everything in life. If you talk to any Software Engineer in the world, he will be able to breakdown a process for you which is the biggest thing about coding. You will be able to say it starts from this point and get to this point; then you list out all the processes in between. If you keep one process, it is not going to work. So you have to create things to achieve your purpose and that has helped me when it comes to writing music.

    If you are not a software engineer or musician, what other things would you have been?

    I probably would have been doing some other things and making a lot of money. And I will continue to do charity work to help children with health challenges get better. I will perform for the less privilege children to raise fund to solve their problems. A couple of my friends like Banky W and Sound Sultan do charity work and I like that. We need to support kids in charity homes to enable them live better lives.

    At what point did you realise that music is the way for you?

    I have always loved music. Michael Jackson was my childhood hero. Back in the days, when I came back from school, I would take off my shoes and roll my pants up and start dancing. I would switch off all the light leaving only one coloured bulb to serve as my spotlight. So I would dance inside my room and lots of stuffs like that. All that added to my performance. So I felt connected to music right from my childhood. Then I was in my church choir and I was very shy.

    Tell us, who is Sammy?

    Sammy is just a good guy who is contented with what he has. I learnt a lot from my father and he is one man who is contented. I am ambitious and respect the level everybody is. If the world is to end now I will be a happy man because music makes me happy as I make music.

    Are you single?

    Absolutely!

    Are you ready to mingle?

    I have heard somebody telling me I’m just focusing on my music only. The person felt that I pay greater attention to music than thinking of marriage but I have not spent a greater time with a woman than I have in music.

    Are we expecting any album from you soon and what is the title?

    Yes. I have an album I’m working on to be released soon. The title of the album is Home. The title is derived from the fact that I’ve been far away from my home, Oyo State, for a long time. That is why I am developing the title in Pidgin English and Yoruba. I bring into the music all the facts that make me a Nigerian, African, and a black man. I have been working on the album for the past two years now.