We promote musicians but don’t get desired recognition – dancer
Nigerian dancers have done much to promote the nation’s music industry and
its musicians but have yet to get desired recognition, a prolific dancer, Nasir Mohammed, has said.
Mohammed (a.k.a. Nas Magnificent) expressed the dissatisfaction in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He said that dancers globally played vital roles in uplifting musicians.
Mohammed, the Coordinator of a monthly dancing show, Freestyle Friday, said that there was need for Nigerian dancers to be better seen and heard and become celebrities.
“Dancers contribute much in making musicians to grow but get less credit for it.
“We are right now mostly aimed at making dancers to become celebrities because we have what it takes through this our monthly medium.
“We actually want to focus on putting them in positions to be seen and heard more, instead of just promoting musicians,” the choreographer and creative costumier said.
Mohammed, a pioneer dancer of Afro Buck (African Krump Dance), said that the last edition of Freestyle Friday, with more than 300 participants, was dedicated to Nigeria’s 62nd Independence Anniversary.
“Our last show was dedicated to our country’s 62nd Independence Anniversary; we contribute to national development by empowering and encouraging youths.
“The monthly Freestyle Friday show is aimed at growing the Nigerian dance community to becoming a mega sector.
“It is a platform for Nigerian dancers to express themselves, build their talents and network with fellow dancers.
“It is a community created to open up prospects to all dancers of all genres,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria’s dance industry boasts of many talents but has not been given the desired prominence.
“We are working to change that wrong narrative,’’ he told NAN.
Mohammed said that Freestyle Friday, which started in 2018 in Lagos, had been able to develop some talents.
“The monthly show creates a forum for dancers to showcase their art, which will in-turn, build a better nation – one with less idle youths and more creative ones,” he said. (NAN)
