ALTHOUGH penciled down to perform at the national programme of commemoration to mark Nigeria's 51stindependence anniversary, the National Troupe will nevertheless stage a 90 minutes six dance piece titled The Summary at the National Theatre in Lagos as part of its own contribution to the independence anniversary package.The dance, a package that reflects some landmark experiences that has shaped the character and personality of the Nigerian state as the nation begins the journey into a new jubilee is choreographed by Arnold Udoka, a Director, in charge of Dance of the National Troupe.It will be staged on October 1,2011 beginning from 5pm.Set both in pre and post independence Nigeria, The Summary comprising six dance pieces drawn from the troupe's vast repertoire of dances including the famous Kolanut Dance, as the Artistic Director of the National Troupe of Nigeria, Mr. Martin Adaji explained, is the Troupe's own way of undertaking a revue through dance of the events that led to Nigeria's independence and events that have shaped Nigeria's existence as a progressive and indivisible entity.Adaji noted that guests that will be attracted to the command staging of the dance piece, on independence day celebration will be reminded of the past, the present and Nigeria's journey into the future. 'We thought it would be necessary at this point in our national life to, through the platform of the performing arts, particularly dance, reflect on some of our landmark experiences so that this can inspire people to greatness especially as we enter into the first year of another jubilee,' Adaji said.To be performed by core artistes of the National Troupe, The Arbiter, The Kid, Black Skies, Ode to Earth, Rivers of Jubilation, and Kolanut Dance are some of the dance works that make up The Summary, a dance work that chorographer Arnold Udoka explained would showcase the rich dance heritage of Nigeria enshrined in dance presentation.While The Arbiter highlights how political conflict is stoked by the merchant of violence; The Kid, a tribute to the pugilist Hogan 'kid' Bassey exemplifies an individual courage in the blossoming of national pride.The challenges of mutual co-existence in the face of bomb blast, militancy, religious conflicts and pains of these conflicts on the Nigerian civilization and the national psyche is the focus of Black Skies, while Ode to Earth treats how cosmic harmony is consistently threatened by natural and cosmic disasters.The kolanut as a metaphor for a united Nigeria is the thematic preoccupation of The Kolanut dance while Rivers of Jubilation showcases the therapeutic effect of athletics and sporting successes that have served as a unifying factor, and by extension, have continued to inspire unity.In a related development, the National Troupe has secured the approval of the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation Edem Duke to honour an invitation by the Israeli government to perform Femi Osofisan's small cast play The Engagement in Israel in October.The play will be directed by Josephine Igberaese, a director with the National Troupe in charge of Drama. The performance in Israel coming almost a year after the National Troupe played host to an Israeli based theatre company, which staged Wole Soyinka's Lion and the Jewel at the National Theatre as part of the bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Israel. This performance therefore is in furtherance of the bilateral agreement between the two countries.
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