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Help Scarz complete his Dance Diploma

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Hello all! My name is Chi and I am an educator and art-lover who started this campaign for a dear friend of mine, Promise Dominic Obada, who needs help to complete his dance studies. Please give a few moments to read about this campaign, and make sure you watch the campaign video as well. Message me if you have any questions! Gratefully, Chi

*ATTENTION* The 3rd year program has been moved to April, 2021, due to the Covid-19 outbreak that has affected Senegal. It has NOT been cancelled. Therefore, the fundraiser is still ongoing and donations will go toward the same cause, except they will be applied in 2021.



"I am seeking support to complete the last year of the diploma program at Ecole des Sables, Toubab Dialaw, Senegal. As a member of the 2018-2020 cohort of young African dancers, it is my wish to contribute to the development of contemporary African dance by performing, choreographing, teaching, touring, and organizing workshops and trainings. Graduating from Ecole des Sables would enable me to form alliance between the different African countries and between Africa and the other continents through contemporary African dance, enabling dialogue, artistic and economic opportunities, and most importantly, social change. I am grateful for your time to hear me share my story, my passion, and my vision.




I am Promise Dominic Obada, also known as Scarz.

I grew up in a slum called Ajegunle in Lagos, Nigeria. My childhood and young adult years were a battle, hence I named myself “Scarz” to let the world know that my struggles cannot defeat me, that I rise despite of, or perhaps because of, my wounds. I found dance at age 12, and started training professionally at age 16. Since then, I’ve always known it to be my purpose in life and the way I give back to the community. Despite extreme hardships, I carried on my dance studies, graduating from Dance Deal Foundation at Corporate Dance World, Nigeria, in 2015. I have worked as a professional dancer and choreographer for the past five years.



It has always been my dream to become a graduate of Ecole des Sables. Its Diploma in Traditional and Contemporary Dances of Africa selects 24 young dancers from Africa for its 3-year cohort, based on technical, creative and artistic potential. The 3-month module per year format progresses the curriculum from dancer-performer to choreographer. The pedagogy is based on the work of deconstructing traditional dances proposed by Patrick Acogny, artistic director of Ecole des Sables; the modern African dance technique of Germaine Acogny; courses in contemporary Western dance techniques; and the exchange of knowledge between trainees. After completing the 3-month module, the student returns home to implement his or her learning during the 9 months in their home country.

I need help completing the last module, spread over between April to June, in 2020. Each dancer is responsible for funding their flight tickets, program fees and living expenses. Living expenses in Senegal are significantly higher than those in Nigeria. In 2018, the costs were covered by myself from my own savings. In 2019, the costs were covered by myself and partially covered by the Prince Claus Funds and The Goethe institut Nigeria. This fund cannot be repeated again. Some unfortunate family events took place in 2019 after my return from Senegal, which prevented me from saving much of my income. Moreover, the economic condition and reality of the dance industry in Nigeria is such that most dancers aren’t able to have consistent income. My only regular job is dance instructor at a private school once a week, which is wonderful and rewarding but not sufficing to fund this trip.

I’m seeking funds for the registration fee to the Diploma program, as well as flight fees.

Registration fee: US$456.00 (270,000 CFA)

Flight fees: US$695.00 (N250,000.00)


Total: US$1151.00

Your support would help me pay for registration for the third module and money for flight tickets from Lagos to Dakar and back. My completion of the Diploma in Traditional and Contemporary Dances would enable me to master my art, share knowledge, create aesthetically beautiful and socially responsible pieces, and eventually become a dance leader so I can help African dance in the new era flourish at home and abroad. By this gesture, Nigeria and Africa will be placed on the world stage; African art should no longer be just a “fringe” genre, and Africa should receive the recognition it deserves.

Thank you so much for considering my campaign!"

For more information about Ecole des Sables: www.ecoledessables.org

Organizer

Chi Kuo
Organizer
New York, NY

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