By Eric Ojo
A university lecturer, Netball Africa certified instructor and a sport for change activist, Dr. Grace Ataha has said that dancing is an empowering tool that could help women to reduce their level of stress.
Dr. Ataha, who teaches, “Traditional Dances and Sports in Nigeria” a third-year course at the Department of Physical and Health Education, University of Uyo, made the observation at an event organized by the department.
The event which had over five hundred spectators in attendance from within and outside the university community, featured dancing and sporting activities involving the students.
The 47 third-year students who were divided into nine groups thrilled the spectators to different traditional dances from different parts of Nigeria.
These include: Ekõmbi and Abang dance (Efik), Atilogwu (Igbo), Abre dance (Annang and Ibibio), Bata dance (Yoruba), Mõninkem (Ejagham), Uta dance (Annang and Ibibio), Asian uboikpa dance (Ibibio), Swanghe dance (Tiv), Oghene dance (Igbo), Fulani milk maids dance Fulani).
The costumes of the students, dance steps and instruments reflected the dance of the community or ethnic group they fall into.
She also expressed hope that in future, some of her students would positively contribute their own quota to the repertoire of modern dance steps that have made the Afrobeat musical videos by Nigerian artists big hits in the international music scene.
During the event, she formally introduced the course and started the dance demonstration with a display of dance steps from different Nigerian tribes. This was them followed by the students who had five minutes to display their dance skills with a view of wowing the judges, who were drawn from other departments of the university.
“At the end of this successful event that given the diversity of the sports and entertainment industries in Nigeria, students of this course would be equipped with the knowledge, skills and practical experience of the relevance of dance as part of sport exercise, choreography, events organizing, as well as the relevance of singing and dancing in motivating athletes during sports events”, she said.
The Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Etefia Ekanem, the Dean of Faculty of Education, Prof. Imaobong Akpan, the Chairman Senate Business Committee, Prof. Ini Jona were among the dignities present at the event