How Dance Africa Dance unites Africa, Bollywood

SOUTH African dancer and choreographer Paul Modjadji has hailed the immense talents of dancers on the continent, especially those participating in the Kellog’s Dance Africa Dance contest.

Kellogg’s Dance Africa Dance is Zee World’s first reality dance competition in Africa. Modjadji and Miss World India, Krsna-Priya Dasa are resident judges alongside guest judges including Big Brother’s Omashola Oburoh, Democratic Republic of Congo’s model and actor, Joe Kazadia and Zimbabwe’s media personality Chinyani amongst others.

The show, which aims to uncover the continent’s best dance team, premiered in September. African countries including Angola, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Uganda, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Cameroon, Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe are vying for honours. Two dance champions, one team and one solo winner will emerge.

Speaking in an interview on what he considered before taking up the role, Modjadji, the first African winner of the Dance Star World Masters Champion title, said he saw the show as a unique opportunity.

He said, “I had to consider what it would mean to champion a TV show that brings together two of the world’s biggest and diverse continents, Africa and India. It became an opportunity to think about how to continue to take ownership of the narrative we are shaping up on the global stage about Africa. I came on the show as a cheerleader of all things dance, African and youth and less of a critic.

On why comments on the show are targeted at improving participants, Modjadgi said, “To watch the contestants improve week after week is a true testament to the show’s original intent of celebrating dancers and our diverse cultures. Whilst constructive criticism is necessary; one doesn’t have to scold for building anyone up. The opposite does that far more effectively.”

Commenting on his experiences, he said, “I expected that it would be a far more demanding work scrutinising the dance crews’ technical and creative offerings every week, but far more than critiquing; it’s appreciating the vast talent our dancers have in exploring the fusion of Bollywood and African styles. It’s a challenge I’m happy to see the dancers are executing with prowess and excellence.”

Modjadji, who first visited Nigeria through the Africa Movie Academy Awards nomination for the dance film, ‘Hear Me Move’, he choreographed and later, while filming the ‘Breaking Down Borders’ Africa Documentary’ series, also spoke on the connection between the show and Bollywood.

“Bollywood understands something most Africans already live by and practice every day. The idea that music and dance can further communication and our bonds where words sometimes simply can’t. The connection between Bollywood and Africa is about celebrating our diversity whilst embracing our similarities.

The choreographer, who lists the habits of a good dancer to include discipline, passion, technique, commitment and ability to tap into the moment and revel in it, disclosed that the feedback has been incredibly amazing. “It is incredible to see the interest we have from dance crews and audiences who are already inquiring about Season 2. Equally, so we have made history in so many ways. We are the only Television show to broadcast to over 100 markets in real-time, and we have also been rated top show in many of the countries we broadcast in.”

Modjadji, recipient of South Africa’s Youth Award for Arts and Entertainment and Global Young Leaders Award from the Global Youth Leadership Congress in Washington DC, has other productive engagements when not judging the contest.

“I am fortunate enough to have a dance company, Imvula Pula Dance Entertainment, that allows me to creatively direct, choreograph and produce content for films, TV, theatre, and other platforms. I’m also the founder of the not-for-profit, Leaders Who Dare To Dream Foundation, and I serve on multiple advisory boards. I’m currently serving my annual tenure as an Atlantic Fellow with the Global Brain Health Institute.”

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