Ice Nweke and Zizi Cardow

Founded by Charles Selorm Agbemashior, a social dance instructor, the Latin Dance Club has introduced, promoted, and spread the Latin fever in the Nigerian market.

In less than three years of activity The Latin Dance Club has achieved impressive results in creating awareness and popularity of various social Latin dances in Nigeria. Started initially in Lagos at The Vault; dance classes are now held at multiple venues due to an increase in demand.

The Latin Dance Club is synonymous with the effervescent salsa night scene in Lagos. Every Tuesday and Saturday night, old and new students plus other salsa lovers meet at La Casa to party in Latin style, dancing to salsa, merengue, cha-cha, zouk and bachata beats. Then, there is the Flamingo Restaurant, brimming to capacity with the contagious energy from the many salseros and salseras dancing the night away every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday night.

With the Latin Dance Club's contribution and through it's constant efforts, salsa is now recognized on the Nigerian market as a barrier breaker, a bonding activity that brings people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, age groups, religious beliefs together and offers them the opportunity to share the same passion: SALSA!!!


Let's Dance!

It's 7pm on Thursday, and Ngozi Anunandu makes her way to Bacchus, a hangout on Awolowo Road in Ikoyi for another evening of salsa.


The venue hosts a dance class for the Latin Dance Company, managed by Charles Selorm Agbemashior who organises the Absolutely Salsa Competition at the Silverbird Galleria, and plans to make the competition an African affair this year.

A few bus stops away on the second floor in the Magnolia Hall of the City Mall in Onikan, Ice Nweke begins another day, teaching young people to dance, ballroom style.

Each person holds the other closely yet respectfully, making slow movements, like royals at a grand ball, enjoying classes organised by members of the Society of the Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN).

One of the scenes that stand out in the "Olori Oko" video by Infinity is the dance performed by Liadi Adedayo, with his unique ‘Ijodee' technique.

Ayobamidele Aladekomo plays the guitar, sings and acts. She also dances; and says she found her inspiration after joining the Crown Troupe of Africa.

It helped in her personal development; and the beauty in the rhythm and movement, are a medium of passing messages across to other young people.

Kaffy has choreographed musical videos, featured with her dance team in live shows, and has been on the judge's bench for dance competitions.

A world record holder after dancing for 55 hours and 40 minutes, she represents the evolution of the hip hop dance culture in Nigeria.

Jennifer Ogbor, a ballet enthusiast who instructs teenagers for SPAN, believes that anyone who has learnt ballet to a certain extent, can easily master any dance style.

"Ballet keeps you fit, gives you grace in your movements - and because of its slowness, you can follow the detail of any dance step," she said.

Brandiny, a dancer and head of the dance group "Mask" believes that dance is a form of entertainment and once people feel happy watching you, the aim has been achieved.

Kaffi,Ayobamidele Aladekomo, Jennifer Ogbor, Ice Nweke, Ngozi Anunandu... All have one thing in common, and it involves dancing.

It is passion - real and undiluted - and the desire to do something that will make a difference in society.

Dance in Nigeria has come a long way from our traditional cultural dances. We have evolved over time to embrace dances that, although they may be classified as foreign, closer inspection actually show their African links, like Salsa.

Following the dance reality shows and competitions on TV - "Celebrity Takes2 ", "Maltina Family Dance All ", Always "Keep Moving", Close Up "Fresh Challenge", Amstel Malta "Street Dance Competition" and others in this category - one cannot miss the popularity of Latin dances like: Cha Cha, Samba, Jive, Rumba, Paso Doble and Salsa.

Ballroom dance (Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep and Tango) are also in vogue, as well as the standard, Hip Hop and contemporary dance steps.

These competitions and platforms are indicative of the changes in the Nigerian dance scene in recent years.

Charles Agbemashior, who teaches Salsa, says of the dance, "It's fun, a good way of expression.

It keeps you fit and builds people's confidence, especially a man's interaction with a woman. We as Africans can relate with Salsa, because it's a 3-step thing; and it is a much better form of expression compared to other Latin dances."

Dare Ekunno, who started learning Salsa with the Latin Dance Company four years ago, agrees. "Salsa is gentlemanly. It makes you understand how to handle a lady. It's a dance you can enjoy yourself."

Jane started dancing with the Latin Dance Company six months ago. She loves Salsa. "I come (to classes) from Apapa. I enjoy the music and the natural rhythm . It releases stress for me."

SPAN,a non-government organisation that serves as a vehicle for artistes to be trained and developed, offers dance classes to the public.

SPAN instructor, Penny Mohammed, said of ballroom dance, "It is important that children, boy or girl, learn mutual respect at a young age.

(Ballroom) dance is elegant and instils discipline." Nnamdi "Ice" Nweke heads the dance company, "Extreme"; and also takes dance classes in SPAN.

"Ballroom dance gives you a proper posture," he said, "it builds your confidence because you walk up straight."

Liadi Adedayo of the Ijodee Dance Company is known for his unforgettable turn in the Infinity video, so much so that he is now simply referred to, as Olori Oko.

Adedayo favours contemporary dance, "because the rules in other forms of dance limit you, one cannot fully express himself in all these other dances."

For Segun Adefila of the Crown Troupe of Africa, "Dance is part of our tradition; you cannot separate culture from arts, and our dances are adventurous and experimental, because art engages you," he said.

Dance may have other benefits beyond the physical, as Ayobamidele Aladekomo attests. "It develops your mind," said the student and contemporary dancer.

"Hip-hop dance is eating deep into the entertainment arena. There has been a geometric increase for the past few years, and I think it's good." This, from Kaffy, one of the predominant hiphop dancers in the country today.

Hip-hop dance started from break dancing, and has grown from moon walking by Michael Jackson to the complex movements of the body, now common place among hip-hoppers.

From Salsa to Ballroom to Contemporary dance and Hip- Hop, there is no stopping the dance craze in Nigeria.

Dance classes are set to remain busy as more and more people seek help to improve their Samba or Foxtrot skills.

Brandiny of Mask, also believes in the natural ability of dancers. "Though I am not against getting training, it's just that some of these dances originated in Africa and nobody taught those people to dance like that. Besides, as long as people love what they see, nobody is interested in all the technical stuff."

For those who don't make it to dance classes, there is hope yet, it seems.