The Dance Guild of Nigeria (GOND), a non-governmental organisation, on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to declare April 29 as National Dance Day in Nigeria.
Mr Steve James, the immediate past President of GOND, made the call in an interview in Abuja on the sidelines of activities to mark the 2018 Dance Day.
GOND is an affiliate of the National Association of Theatre Arts Practitioners of Nigeria (NANTAP).
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.
“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 said.
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. (NAN)
