NIGERIA: Nigeria's Bailamos Dance Company takes steps to raise the popularity of classical ballroom dancing

Record ID: 236065

  • Title: NIGERIA: Nigeria's Bailamos Dance Company takes steps to raise the popularity of classical ballroom dancing
  • Date: 14th May 2013
  • Summary: DANCERS PERFORMING BALLROOM DANCE VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE WATCHING VARIOUS OF RUMBA DANCE PERFORMANCES ON STAGE
  • Embargoed: 29th May 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA82MTQI0G8RUVNKQJ36Y2JNZ2P
  • Story Text: Dance enthusiasts in Lagos, Nigeria were recently treated to a different kind of dance performance.
    Dubbed "Words in Motion", it was the first independent dance production by Bailamos Dance Company, a dance outfit that is trying to change the way Nigerians look at dance - as a professional art form and not just a hobby.
    Ballroom dancing is not popular in Nigeria. Here, dance moves with a traditional flavour as well as western forms of dancing borrowed from the hip hop and rap music videos from the west are more mainstream.
    Bailamos is trying to introduce ballroom and classical forms of dancing.
    At the company's Lagos studio, students get a hands-on lesson from creative director, Bunmi Olunloyo. The company provides dance classes to dance enthusiasts of all ages.
    A lawyer by training, Bunmi founded Bailamos in 2007 to share her passion for dance. She says she would like to see a successful dance industry created in Nigeria.
    "Nigerians are responding better to dance now as an entertainment form and as a health form and you know as a career which is good which is where we really need to be, it's slow but you know if the Nollywood people could do it after how many years, if the comedians could do it after how many years, it might take a little longer for us but I know we'll get there," she said.
    Bunmi, who says she wants to help improve the lifestyle of Nigerians through dance, which provides much needed mental, physical, emotional and spiritual balance in a country where health officials lament high stress levels, received her classical dance training from international dance professional, Dave Cambell.
    The new variety of dance styles is finally gaining ground, although Bunmi says getting to a point where people would actually pay to see shows has not been easy.
    "Going against the norm in Nigeria being a woman also you know it's very difficult, it's very challenging and there's no way you won't go through family, friends who just do not understand what the heck you're doing, dancing, are you crazy? You know but it's made me see my strength and see that it's possible, anything is possible with hard work," she said.
    Bailamos brings together professional dancers from across Nigeria.
    Their "Words in Motion" performance was described as an overwhelming experience by visitors who paid up to 160 US dollars for tickets.
    "I'm really proud of them, the producers and Bunmi and everybody because we are not used to seeing people dance like that, we think even African bodies cannot move to that kind of dance, the fluidity and they've done a really fantastic job," said Olafunmi Ireosan.
    "I believe we should learn to accommodate new techniques in dancing. I mean techniques that are not original to us. I think we should learn to appreciate it because even other countries now, when you see the way they dance, you see that they kind of put in some African content in their dance moves so seeing salsa, seeing all the other dance techniques that are not Nigerian on that stage was magical, fantastic, great," said Ariyike Akinbobola.
    Bailamos has incorporated Nigerian music and dance styles into their dance routines creating a new but familiar taste for local audiences.
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