Qudus Onikeku is made of diversity; a well-known fixture on the dance and choreography landscape at home and on the International stage, he has in the past years given a facelift to the appreciation of dance in Nigeria. His dance style is best described as weaved multiplication of techniques and influences that wind together like a ceremonial aso-oke.
Given such eclecticism, its then not suspiring that the QDance Center, in collaboration with like minds from across Nigeria and abroad will be taking over BROAD STREET on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th of February with an alternative festival titled DANCE GATHERING, an objective to initiate a space of anti-disciplinary practice in Lagos, where creatives gather to work on ideas that don’t necessarily fit into one discipline.
This innovative festival debuted last year to rave reviews from critics, participants, and a resounding “we want more” from the attendees. This year’s edition, themed BODY and MEMEORY, is a curatorial direction which focuses on diverse forms of creative endeavours, that variedly explores the body as a storehouse of memories and inherited traumas. “…as the living pass through the tunnel of history, the body becomes the prized possession, a battlefield and a space of freedom” -Qudus Onikeku. Memory as an element of healing and reconstruction goes beyond set limitations thus communicating in non-verbal, expressive forms.
DANCE GATHERING is a two weeks cortege bringing together participants and stakeholders from the international creative eco-system. A central-hub to witness the magic that becomes when creative innovators, thinkers and practical problem solvers, gather in one space, in a city like Lagos. The DANCE GATHERING platform is, therefore, a rich embroidery of disciplines ranging from Choreographers, Musicians, Actors, Poets to DJs, Visual Artistes, Video artistes, Martial Artistes, Designers, Architects, Writers, Historians, and Philosophers, all of whom are radically shifting the boundaries of knowledge in their respective disciplines.
The DANCE GATHERING calendar will end with a combustible, spectacle of engaging, compelling and captivating performance festival in the centre of Lagos’ financial and business district – Broad Street. Excitement for this FREE theatrical weekend is gearing up amongst art lovers, voyeurs, enthusiasts, fun-lovers especially as its also a fun weekend outing for the whole family.
DANCE GATHERING 2018 is curated by Qudus Onikeku & Onye Ozuzu (The dean of Fine and performing arts, Columbia college. Chicago). The whole process begins from the 12th February to 25th of February, with an official opening cocktail event at Freedom Park on 22nd of February.
International Performance Weekend – Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th February 2018
Location – BROAD STREET
Entry: FREE
Time: 4pm – 11pm.