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Nneka Obiorah and Akorede
Oyerogba, both Dance Graduates performing a special Salsa dance, during the
first graduation ceremony of SPAN at Eko Hotels & Suites in Lagos
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It was a moment
of joy and celebration when a non-governmental organization performing wonders,
the Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN), as part of its contribution to human development and support for
creativity, recently graduated its first set of 20 students.
The event which took place at the prestigious
Eko Hotels & Suites in Lagos was a reflection of the world-class standard
for arts education in Nigeria, as SPAN used the opportunity to reward two outstanding
students with an International Internship Award in France.
The celebration was
a gathering of art enthusiast, iconic dancers, music lovers, members of the
diplomatic community and notable high profile personalities which included the
likes of Mr. Gabi Massoud, Mrs. Sandra Obiago, Pastor Wale Adefarasin and Mrs.
Olufunmi Olajuyegbe among others.
SPAN also used
the occasion to showcase its abundance fused in artistic experience with a
heightened sense of humanity and social responsibility, as several young
talented students from the dance and music academy thrilled the audience all
the way. This year graduation has produced top-notch dancers and music acts who
are definitely billed to revamp while contributing to the entertainment and art
industry in Nigeria
Several students
held the audience stage bound as they exhibited electrifying and stunt filled
performance starting from the first drummer, Okeke Praise to another drum stick
expert, Edache Ejoga, who did a classic duet with Precious Nwaaneri singing the
popular “I will Always Love You” track by the late Whitney Houston. The combined
graduation performance was a colourful show stopper as it featured students like
blessing Joseph, Wisdom Ojije, Micheal Omani, Kenneth Ugochukwu, Akorede
Oyerogba, Chijindu Chize, Ola King, Noah Ashikem, Micheal Sasu, Keshinton
Praise, Udoeka Justine David Ikenna, Obinna Orji and Otutu Godspower, to
mention a few.
According to the
founder of SPAN, Mrs Sarah Boulos, “In our today, we are defined by what we do
more than who we are and that is the rationale behind the education of Nigerian
youths to achieve greatness in all that concerns them, and create opportunities
for them to dialogue, develop, and overcome limitations using the performing
arts as a healing and transformational tool.”
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| Emmanuel
Ajanlekoko and Nneka Obiorah, both Dance Graduates celebrating a scholarship
prize, during the first graduation ceremony |
Boulos stressed
that the 2013-2014 Season will be filled with educational programmes followed
by rewards and awards to inspire the pursuit of excellence, so that more men
from underprivileged communities can stand tall in the sunlight of achievements,
contributing great impacts that affect and change the society.
Furthermore, the
students seized the opportunity to unveil different stylish dance moves as they
stepped exceptionally to the music of eLDee The Don – “Na Wash”. The icing of
the celebration was in three prongs - the launch of a Special Health Fund for
students by the management of SPAN, cutting of the graduation cake by the students,
parents and well wishers while two students, Emmanuel Da-Silva Ajanlekoko and
Nneka Obiorah were rewarded with a dance internship award to be part of an
international carnival in France.
Some of the top
patrons and sponsors behind the 2013 graduation ceremony include Indomie, SCOA,
7up Bottling Company, Cool Fm, Mountain Dew, I.T.B Nigeria Limited, Tropic Ice,
Audio Visual First (AVF), GEA, Chellarams, Aleeco Nader, CIS Group Group Fadoul
and Netcom among others.
SPAN offers different
classes of training which ranges from Jazz to Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Creative
Combo, Drama, Contemporary African, Fitness, Naija Craze, Salsa and Latin
Ballroom dance for beginners, intermediate and professionals.
“SPAN is a
registered non-governmental organization founded in 2004 with the aim of
unifying and advancing the performing arts in the country, offering free
community services in the arts to other foundations and schools, with the ultimate
hope of presenting a life changing message that will help families, children
and youths re-channel their thinking and develop positive skills for later
life,” Boulos said.
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Nneka Obiorah and Akorede
Oyerogba, both Dance Graduates performing a special Salsa dance
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