Entertainment
AfroStepz Dance Academy clinches wins Praise Dance Battle 2024
The Praise Dance Concert of the 10th Ghana Dance Festival came off last Saturday, featuring the best of Praise Dance Ministers in a holy dance battle for the number 1 spot.
The event which was held at PIWC Atomic, in partnership with the PIWC’s Ministry to Celebrities, saw AfroStepz Dance Academy emerge winners, ahead of Dance 360, Flames Dance Company, CDS, Shepherds, KTwins Gh, and Pawers Nation.
The three-round competition had audience spellbound from start to finish, with dance ministers giving off their best in each round.
For round one, dance ministers performed to their own mix, laced with a Scott Evans song, where the following groups made it top 5- AfroStepz Dance Academy, Dance 360, Flames Dance Company, Shepherds, and CDS.
In round two, dance ministers took on the creative task of using Dance Drama to couch various messages including values from Samson and Delilah; The Prodigal Son; Elijah and the prophets of Baal; Unity and Love over division by parties ahead of coming elections; amongst others.
After the second round, Flames Dance Company were declared winners of the 3rd position with 1000cedis as their prize. AfroStepz and Dance 360 moved on to the final round, where they had to battle for the 1st and 2nd position.
The battle had a face-off format, and featured two of their best dancers in a round of Afropop and hiphop songs, per DJ’s choice.
This round was declared a tie by the competition’s esteemed judges – Illyboy (Leader of Arenees Dance Crew), Erica Appa (Leader of Heroz Dance Crew, and House Ghana), The GreatNet (Leader of Let’s Dance Africa), Abena Lar (Dancer-Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Psychology) and Scott Evans (Urban Gospel Artiste).
To break the tie, the judges called for another face off. In the end, MC of the event, Psalm One, announced AfroStepz as 1st place winners, with 4000 cedis prize money, and Dance 360 as 2nd place winners, with 2000 cedis prize money.
According to CEO of the Ghana Dance Festival, Robert Klah, “dance means different things to different people and the are happy to use their platform to allow for the different expressions in gospel fraternity.
He said, ” This year, we decided to bring the praise dance back to the church, and to offer more people the opportunity to use their dance as a tool of worship and service to God.”
He said “We grateful for the partnership with PIWC Atomic, facilitated by Pastor Michael Laryea and approved by Apostle Athony Mensah. While we are happy with the event, we look forward to a bigger experience next year.”
The event also saw a discussion on how the dancers and the urban gospel singers can work together.
In the panel discussion moderated by Robert Klah, several issues on promotion were discussed. Urban gospel artistes Scott Evans, Kobby Salm, and Kingz Kid represented the interest of the urban gospel musicians.
Kingz Kid highlighted the role of dancers in the promotion of gospel songs using this experience as a reference point.
On his part, Kobby Salm charged the dancers to play their role in the ecosystem by working with musicians to build the industry.
Additionally, Scott Evans reached out to dancers for more collaboration in for collective growth.
Jay Smoke, who was the event DJ used the opportunity to highlight REPJESUS.com platform as a main source of urban gospel library accessible to anyone interested in Ghanaian urban gospel songs.
The session closed with an appreciation of dancers and musicians with a clear understanding to working together, to achieve kingdom objectives.
Also ministering at the event were Let’s Dance Africa, Tema Dance Academy, Incredible Afro, City of Twins, The Talent Tribe, KCC, Yung Commissioner, and JoVarni.
Royal Vessel Incorporated charged the atmosphere with praise and worship at the beginning of the programme.
The programme was made possible with the support of Ps Michael Laryea, and coordinating team Nana Akoto Agyapong, Enoch Agyepong and Dompe, all of PIWC Atomic.
The Praise Dance Concert of the 10th Ghana Dance Festival was in collaboration with DanceSport Ghana, Dancers & DanceSport Association of Ghana (DDASPAG), Ministry to Celebrities of PIWC, and powered by Dancetera.
Award-winning Ghanaian musician, Michael Owusu Addo, affectionately called Sarkodie has described his annual event, Rapperholic concert as bigger than just a music event, highlighting its significant economic impact.
In a post after a successful Rapperholic edition in Kumasi, the rapper noted that the concert stimulates economic activity across Kumasi, Accra and the wider Ghanaian economy.
According to him, this is driven through tourism, hospitality, transportation, food, fashion, media, advertising, employment and the creative supply chain.
“The economic value of this concert extends far beyond ticket sales. It includes visitor spending, revenue for local businesses, temporary jobs created, suppliers paid and the future tourism and commercial opportunities generated by the event,” he stated.
Sarkodie called on government and the private sector to seize the opportunity to build an ecosystem where Ghanaian entertainment generates measurable economic value, supports businesses, creates jobs and attracts visitors.
“Let’s invest in our creative economy. The potential goes far beyond the stage,” he added.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Multiple award-winning dancehall artiste Emmanuel Andrew Samini popularly known as Samini is set to return to his Dansoman base with the much-anticipated Samini Experience on December 24.
The musician, who has nurtured top talents from the community in the past, says this year’s edition will be held in collaboration with the Dansoman Homecoming Carnival, to make the event bigger.
Speaking to the media at Kegali Hotel during a press launch on Friday, October 16, Samini said activities including a clean-up exercise, health walk, Children’s Day and games will take place from December 18 ahead of the main event.
According to him, the choice of Dansoman is to give back to the community where it all started.
He added that the event was also aimed at nurturing future talents by giving them a platform to showcase their abilities.
He disclosed that some music legends from Dansoman and other big names in the music industry will be on the bill to thrill patrons.
Samini also revealed that the Dansoman Exhibition streets will be blocked to make way for the unforgettable night of music.
He expressed appreciation to the Ablekuma West Municipal Assembly for their collaboration to ensure the success of the programme.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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