The Praise Dance Concert of the 10th Ghana Dance Festival took place on Saturday, October 12, 2024, showcasing top Praise Dance Ministers in a thrilling holy dance battle for the coveted number one spot.
Held at PIWC Atomic in collaboration with the PIWC’s Ministry to Celebrities, AfroStepz Dance Academy claimed victory, outshining Dance 360, Flames Dance Company, CDS, Shepherds, KTwins Gh, and Pawers Nation.
The competition, which unfolded over three rounds, captivated the audience from beginning to end. In round one, the groups performed to their own mixes featuring Scott Evans songs, with AfroStepz Dance Academy, Dance 360, Flames Dance Company, Shepherds, and CDS advancing to the top five.
For round two, the dance ministers creatively delivered dance dramas based on various themes, including stories like Samson and Delilah, the Prodigal Son, and messages on unity ahead of elections. Flames Dance Company secured third place with a prize of GHC 1000, leaving AfroStepz and Dance 360 to battle it out in the final round.
The final face-off saw the groups’ top two dancers compete in an Afropop and hip-hop showdown to songs chosen by the DJ. The round ended in a tie, prompting the judges to call for an additional round. The esteemed panel of judges, including Illyboy, Erica Appa, The GreatNet, Abena Lar, and Scott Evans, ultimately declared AfroStepz the winners, earning them the first-place prize of GHC 4000, while Dance 360 took second place with GHC 2000.
Robert Klah, CEO of the Ghana Dance Festival, expressed his satisfaction with the event, noting, “Dance means different things to different people, and we are proud to use our platform to showcase the diverse expressions within the gospel community.”
The event also featured a panel discussion on collaboration between dancers and urban gospel musicians, moderated by Robert Klah. Urban gospel artists Scott Evans, Kobby Salm, and Kingz Kid shared their insights, emphasizing the crucial role dancers play in promoting gospel music. Scott Evans called for increased collaboration between musicians and dancers to support the growth of the gospel industry.
Other performances included Let’s Dance Africa, Tema Dance Academy, Incredible Afro, City of Twins, The Talent Tribe, KCC, Yung Commissioner, and JoVarni, with Royal Vessel Incorporated opening the event with powerful praise and worship.
The Praise Dance Concert was made possible with the support of PIWC Atomic’s Pastor Michael Laryea, alongside a dedicated team including Nana Akoto Agyapong, Enoch Agyepong, and Dompe, and was powered by Dancetera in partnership with DanceSport Ghana, Dancers & DanceSport Association of Ghana (DDASPAG), and PIWC’s Ministry to Celebrities.