International Dance Day: Let’s speak language of peace – President Dance Professionals

The President of the Association of Dance Professionals and Scholars in Nigeria, Prof. Jeleel Ojuade, has called for an end to hostilities across the world, especially in Nigeria where human carnage has been on the rise.

Ojuade, in a statement on the occasion of the 2018 World Dance Day, said the world is in need of peace, adding that dance experts could promote the language of peace through their arts.

The International Dance Day, which comes up every April 29, had been set aside since 1982 by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute, the main partner for the Performing Arts of the United Nation’s Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

Ojuade said with Nigeria being a country blessed with over 600 ethnic groups, the country is well positioned to use its cultural diversity to foster peace rather than allow ethnic conflicts.

He stated: “Dance is visibly in tune with the multi-varying layers of human existence in our communities.

“In application, dance supports the ‘town’ and ‘gown’ bid’, snowballing into research and practice terrain where bodies communicate effectively.

“It is on this note that we rest this year’s message on a plea that as human, we should dance regal and allow our bodies to speak the language of peace.

“The world has been in past few months, saturated with myriads of problems such as war, heinous crimes, economic crisis et al.

“We seize this opportunity to appeal to all either young or old to speak the language of Peace and let us be peaceful.”