ESCAPE FROM IGNORANCE TO RELEASE THE "DANCE COMMUNITY" FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMY

Ignorance is a disease and for surety sake, disease destroys and kills, even...

A dance group in Jos, Plateau state: PDAM on the stage

 

Opportunities for sustainable socio-economic growth and development abound in and through the creative economy and industry in Nigeria. Dance as a major component of the creative economy in the country provides huge opportunity for Nigeria’s development, and therefore, very vital for putting the economy on the path of socio-economic recovery.

The role an improved and well-recognized creative industry in Nigeria, where talents abound in multiple dimensions will play in terms of pulling the country out of the dungeon of economic woes, hues and cries arising seriously from the neglect, abandonment and denial of attention to vital segments of the economy is better imagined.

Economic stagnation, poverty and hunger, low standard of living, poor economic and social infrastructures and numerous other negative indices, stare the country constantly in the face, while Nigerians year regularly for sustainable growth and development of the economy, however, ignorance, especially, of so called elites in the country continue to Mar or derail meaningful efforts and processes that some talented and concerned citizens are making to pull the country out of economic obscurity.

Consider for example that the so called elites discriminate one profession against the other. It is common knowledge that some skills including dance are easily discredited and the obvious value and likely contributions to the development of the economy undermined and downplayed. Trades, professions or occupations that Nigerians are richly and naturally endowed with, even when holders of such talents are noticeably and undeniably skillful in their use of the talents, are quite unfortunately treated with disdain and attract scorn, thong lashing and mournful looks, indeed condemnation and poor assessment by the elites, in some cases by mere mentioning of the talent and name of the holder. Being a dancer, as a matter of fact, a very good one is considered foolishness and a total waste of time. 

Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M819dAuSjo 

A dancer is nobody in the eyes of most elites. The fact that dancers are always highly on demand and their product massively and constantly consumed by the numerous admirers that include the elites have not given the elite class in the country reason for a rethink, and the fact that dance is a fundamental aspect and area of interest in the well-known and constantly rising creative industry has not, instead dancers are treated with ignominy and their presence repulsive to most of the elites in the country. Opportunities for sustainable growth and development that abound within the creative economy have continuously eluded Nigerians due to this degree of ignorance and other similar behaviours. The huge attendant negative consequences stare Nigerians glaringly in the face on daily basis.

Dances are performed in different seasons, obviously for a very wide range of reasons and at different occasions and by different segments of the society. Men and women, young and old, rich and poor, literate and illiterate, one way or the other perform dance and enjoy dancing. Some people dance at the local or rural community arenas, some do so in a well-developed event centers, hotels and sporting arenas and numerous others do theirs at the family and neighbourhood levels within the compound. There are those that dance majorly for the elected and appointed public office holders, cultural and traditional ambassadors and visiting authority figures from the highly revered international community.

Generally, if not everybody, many people dance, however, there are among them those that are professional dancers and professionals in every profession bring and attract sanity, clout and advanced followership. The elite must think in this direction, support and encourage their biological sons and daughters and others gifted in dance and speak well of dance and other less fancied skills.

Specific piece bothering on activities of the Plateau Dance and Arts Movement (PDAM) will feature in subsequent publications. The group is doing creditably well, contributing to opening up the economic space, and engaging the younger generation Youths, Teens and Kids, and nurturing them for meaningful contributions to self, the state and the country. 

You can click on the link below to read a piece relating to the the group.

https://www.belfordscorelines.com/2024/10/recognising-self-imposed-mandate-of.html#more

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Nnabugwu Chizoba