FAME Foundation, a non-governmental organization in Abuja, in conjunction with the French embassy in Nigeria, organized a National Break Dance Championship qualifier in Port Harcourt as part of activities under the Play It Dream It Initiative.
It aims to empower the youth through sports under the Play it Dream it Initiative, strengthening the inclusion of young people and vulnerable people through sport, will inspire and teach valuable life skills to young people – particularly those that are consistently underserved, excluded, or economically disadvantaged.
The event that took place on August 26, 2023, at the Alliance Francaise in Port Harcourt recorded a total of 21 break dancers in participation, a championship that proved to be a challenging competition, culminating in the emergence of six winners after a fierce battle from Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers states.
Speaking to the press, Ms. Aderonke Ogunleye Bello, executive director of FAME Foundation, acknowledged the exceptional talent and tenacity of the break dancers, she said,
“This Port Harcourt qualifier has proven to be incredibly challenging, the level of skill and fierceness displayed by all the break dancers made it a difficult task for our judges. Fortunately, we had a capable and experienced jury that managed to select the best that will represent Portharcourt in the Finals.”
Among the enthusiastic participants, Bgirl Kris stood out as the only female present, filled with joy, she disclosed,
“I have been a dancer since childhood, but fear initially gripped me when I got here and realized I was the only girl. But I had unwavering confidence in my abilities, which motivated me to give my all, so when my name was announced as one of the finalists, my happiness knew no limits.”
Similarly, Bboy Prank, one of the finalists from Port Harcourt, expressed his excitement, “I am grateful for this opportunity to participate in the break dance championship. I came from Akwa Ibom to participate in the qualifier, and being named a finalist fills me with immense pride. I am looking forward to delivering my best performance at the finals in Lagos.”
After the event, Ms. Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello extends her gratitude to the French Embassy for their invaluable support in making the national break dance championship a reality. READ ALSO:
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The competition is set to continue in two additional states: Abuja on September 9, 2023, and Lagos on September 22, 2023. The grand finale is scheduled for November in Lagos after which, two winners will be chosen to represent Nigeria at an international breakdance championship in France, while runner-ups will receive consolation prize
The project is financed by the Solidarity Fund for Innovative Projects (FSPI – R) of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. The project aims to provide support to initiatives in areas of democratic governance, culture, the French language, higher education, and research.
