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Arts Correspondent

Two groups B Street B-boy Crew and Two na Flex Twin hip hop dance crew have qualified to represent Mashonaland Central in the Jibilika Dance Festival national finals to be held in Mutare in August. Both from Glendale, the two groups proved to be on top of the game ahead of the six dance groups and eight solo dancers from different parts of Mashonaland Central that competed.In an interview, Jibilika Dance festival founder Plot Mhako said he was overwhelmed with the competition witnessed in Glendale saying the outcome was fantastic.

“The level of talent, innovation and competitiveness was exciting.

“Both groups exhibited much talented such that we struggled to pick a single group and ended up taking two. The other good thing is we managed to attract a full house, something that is so encouraging,” he said.

The next preliminaries are set to be in Bulawayo on June 4 at the Elite 400.

Established in 2007, Jibilika Dance Trust promotes dance as a tool for youth development, recreation and engagement of young people in positive social actions through popular youth culture. The organisation runs several projects besides the annual Jibilika Dance Festival. It is Zimbabwe’s premier annual youth dance festival which celebrates both urban and cultural dances and runs in competition format. It is run by the Jibilika Dance Trust. The Festival will encompass mentorship on a wide range of youth-related issues in various communities, exhibitions and performances.

Each year the festival assumes a new theme which guides the content and outcome. Before the national finals, a series of provincial preliminaries which act as the selection or audition process are conducted.

Finalists at each provincial final then qualify for the grand finale which is held between August and November.