Dancer Tera launched in Accra
A new reality TV show, Dancer Tera, which aims at giving the public an insight into contemporary dance, has been launched at the Silver Lounge in Accra.
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The show forms part of the newly introduced Dance Festival which celebrates the different traditional dances in Ghana as well as create the means for professional dancers to show off their craft.
The festival will also serve as a platform to professionally train dancers to compete in international competitions.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Robert Klah, the brain behind Dance Festival, said as a dancer himself who appreciates the art of dance, he had always wondered why artistes made a living from music as a profession but same couldn’t be said of dancers.
He said the situation, which was unfortunate considering the fortune professional dancers made from their skill outside the shores of the country, inspired him to come up with the festival, one that he was hopeful would give dancers some recognition.
“This festival will involve a series of workshops to help the youth who love to dance package their craft well to appeal to the outside world”, he said.
In a brief speech at the launch, Nana Baffour Kyeremanteng, a lecturer at the University of Ghana’s School of Performing Arts bemoaned the lack of recognition given to people in the Performing Arts. He, therefore, appealed to the government to invest in the arts sector to create more jobs for graduates of the discipline.
Madam Dzifa Gomashie, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, who was the guest speaker at the event also lamented the lack of unity among the players of the arts and creative sector.
“I am very disappointed that I came for the launch of a dance festival and saw only members of the dance association present. I would have loved to see musicians, costume designers, stage directors and the rest who make up the creative arts industry.
“I pray this will be the last time I attend a programme with just a sector representing. It is not healthy for the cause of the creative arts industry,” she added.
The evening which was hosted by poet, Chief Moomen, was laced with performances from dance groups such as Shebre Musical and Dance, Apex Ballroom Dance and Alive Dance from Nigeria.