Speaking Dance

Choreographing for a music video or any corporation does not mean they own your choreography. Your choreography is intellectual property. It is also your catalogue. Just ask Darrin Henson, currently in a legal battle with Sony Music Entertainment over the use of his work. We’ve been having this conversation on Speaking Dance, from our conference Rhythm. Rights. Revenue. to our latest episode with Dorathy Ugonwa Obiayo. Because here’s the truth most dancers ignore: Your movement is not just an expression, it’s IP. If you’re building anything in dance, you need to understand this. Click the link in bio @speakingdance_ to watch the full episode. #DanceIP #DarrinHenson #SonyLawsuit #ByeByeBye #SpeakingDance

TOP 8 STREET DANCE BATTLE VOL. 5 - IN CONVERSATIONS. ‎ ‎I want to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for being part of last night's IN CONVERSATION dialogue. ‎ ‎Your presence, your contributions, and your willingness to speak honestly about Nigerian street culture made the evening truly special. From the origins and soul of the culture to the structures that shape it, and the future we are building together every voice mattered. ‎ ‎Thank you for sharing your time, your wisdom, and your passion. ‎ ‎Special thanks to RapJoint Lagos - Mr. Wale Irokosu and his team for hosting us and providing the perfect space for this conversation to happen. Your support for the culture goes beyond walls and shelves, it lives in moments like these. ‎ ‎Special thanks to @jamesonngr for providing the POS items and bottles that added warmth to our dinner dialogue. Your belief in grassroots culture does not go unnoticed. Special thanks to our Partners @speakingdance_ and @offbalancepod_ ‎ ‎This conversation was just one chapter. The cypher continues on Saturday 25th April. ‎ ‎I look forward to seeing many of you there. ‎ ‎With deep respect and appreciation, ‎ ‎Victor ‎Loudbase AF Entertainment | TOP 8 Nigeria

The dance industry in Nigeria is growing: More dancers. More gigs. Konto to the world: More visibility. But growth without structure raises a harder question: What does it really take to build a life, and a practice, in dance that lasts? Because beyond the performances, the tours, the moments that trend… there is still the question of systems. In this episode, outgoing Chairman of the Guild of Nigeria Dancers (Lagos Chapter) Ugonwa Obiayo-Ademoye, Esq @ugoobiayo sits with @phaith.ot to unpack what sits beneath the surface of the industry: – what sustainability actually looks like for dancers – how the Guild of Nigeria Dancers functions in practice – why structure, policy, and infrastructure matter – and what dancers need to understand beyond movement Because talent can open the door. But only structure keeps it open. 🎧 Now streaming Click the 🔗 Link in bioof @speakingdance_ . Don’t forget to subscribe for more stories on dance, culture, and creative impact: Speaking Dance is a @beghastfoundation platform under the Cultural Preservation & Research Program (C.P.R.P), focused on advancing creative agency within the African dance ecosystem through critical discourse on dance practices across Africa. #speakingdance #dance #nigeria #beghastfoundation #Guildofnigeriandancers

There’s a question we keep returning to: If dance is shaping culture and contributing to the economy… why are dancers still unprotected? What is Dance IP? What does a sustainable dance career actually look like in Nigeria? And why does it still feel out of reach for so many dancers? At Speaking Dance, these are not abstract questions. They are realities we’ve engaged through our conferences and witnessed across studios, festivals, and communities we discuss with. So @phaith.ot sat down with @ugoobiayo , dancer, legal practitioner, and outgoing chairman of the Guild of Nigerian Dancers (Lagos Chapter) to confront what most people in the industry often avoid. This is a conversation about: — ownership — protection — policy — and the systems dancers don’t have Because growth without structure is fragile. Premieres 6pm April 15, 2026 Sound design @wickedandwize Speaking Dance is a @beghastfoundation platform under the Cultural Preservation & Research Program (C.P.R.P), focused on advancing creative agency within the African dance ecosystem through critical discourse on dance practices across Africa. #speakingdance #dance #nigeria #beghastfoundation

One of the most meaningful moments of Afrocan Festival : the Elders Circle.💡 Sitting in circle with the elders of our dance community, listening, learning, and receiving wisdom passed through lived experience. This gathering reminded us that our future is strongest when it stays rooted. A powerful moment of guidance, reflection, and collective growth. In collaboration with @speakingdance_ Hosted by @phaith.ot and @snipes___ 📸 by @visualsbynatascha

Emmanuel Osahor delivered a powerful keynote on “The Soul of a Sustainable Dancer.” He unpacked what it truly takes for dancers to move beyond survival and confront the real question: what is driving your practice? A sustainable dancer doesn’t depend on talent alone. You need structure, support, strategy, and a steady conviction rooted in purpose, community, and the lives you impact. This is exactly why Speaking Dance exists: to create the space where these conversations can finally happen. Thank you, Emmanuel, for bringing clarity, honesty, and both personal and industry insight to this year’s edition. 🎥 @film_bycidd @ways_of_alli #dance #beghastfoundation #speakingdance2025 #abuja #nigeria #africa

Speaking Dance Conference 2025 #Abuja ✨ what a moment! #dance #culture #conference

The heart of Speaking Dance has always been simple: bring dancers, culture workers, Entrepreneurs, institutions, and policymakers into the same room, and let the real conversations happen. This feedback from our guests and panelists says everything. The need for policy, rights, structure, and sustainability in the dance industry is real, and this year’s theme, Rhythm, Rights, Revenue, hit that point clearly. This is how we strengthen the dance ecosystem in Nigeria and across Africa. Thank you to everyone who showed up with honesty and curiosity. We’re building something bigger than an event. We’re building a movement. 🎥 @film_bycidd @ways_of_alli #speakingdance2025 #rhythmrightsrevenue #beghastfoundation #dance #abuja #nigeria

Thank you to our incredible partners! 💛 This year’s success was made possible through the dedication and belief of our partners and collaborators who continue to see the value in advancing the conversation around dance, culture, and policy in Nigeria and across Africa. Special thanks to @callme_mayree Mary Ogenyi and @_christoph_create Christopher Edonobi (co-producers) for their support, and @slumtostage for their powerful performance and volunteer support. We also deeply appreciate @iplan.ng (presenting partner), @ifnigeria (venue partner), and the Guild of Nigerian Dancers (GOND) for their collaboration and commitment to building a sustainable dance ecosystem. Together, we turned “Rhythm, Rights, Revenue” into real dialogue and action that resonates with artists, policymakers, and cultural thinkers across the continent. Here’s to more collaboration, impact, and movement! 💛 #speakingdance2025 #rhythmrightsrevenue #beghastfoundation #creativeeconomy #nigeriadanceindustry #dance #abuja #nigeria #conference #culture

What an incredible edition of Speaking Dance this has been! 💛 A huge thank you to our panelists, artists, legal minds, policymakers, and culture workers, who gave their time, knowledge, and experience to move the conversation forward. Your insights informed us, and will inspire our next action in the future. With this edition, Speaking Dance reached new milestones, growing its audience, expanding partnerships, and deepening its role as Nigeria’s first dedicated platform for dialogue on the business, policy, and cultural framework of dance. To our partners, collaborators, and everyone who showed up, online or in person, thank you for being part of this growing movement. The work continues, and so does rhythm. Powered by @beghastfoundation Presented in partnership with @iplan.ng Supported by @ifnigeria @slumtostage Endorsed by the Guild of Nigerian Dancers GOND #speakingdance2025 #rhythmrightsrevenue #beghastfoundation #creativeeconomy #nigeriadanceindustry #dance #abuja #nigeria #conference #culture

Speaking Dance 2025 was a reminder of what’s possible when dancers, thinkers, stakeholders, legal practitioners and culture shapers gather with purpose. It was everything we hoped for: honest conversations, powerful performances, and a community that showed up ready to learn, connect, and build. Together, we unpacked what Rhythm, Rights, and Revenue really mean for dancers and creatives across Nigeria and beyond. We talked about ownership, access, and what it takes to make dance sustainable, not just inspiring. Abuja, you gave us your warmth, energy, and heart. This is how we keep the culture moving. 💛 Powered by @beghastfoundation Presented in partnership with @iplan.ng Supported by @ifnigeria @slumtostage Endorsed by the Guild of Nigerian Dancers GOND 📷 @ways_of_alli ✨ #speakingdance2025 #rhythmrightsrevenue #beghastfoundation #creativeeconomy #nigeriadanceindustry #dance #abuja #nigeria #conference #culture

What a journey it’s been. Still taking it all in 💛 The 4th edition of the Speaking Dance Conference reminded us once again why we started: to create a space where dancers and creatives can be seen, heard, and valued beyond performance and influence. A space for collaboration, forward-thinking dialogue, and genuine knowledge exchange. To every panelist, partner, volunteer, and attendee thank you for lending your voice, time, and energy to make this vision real. It was nothing short of powerful: honest conversations, new connections, and a shared reminder that dance is so much more than performance. You all showed up and helped shape the future of dance in Nigeria. From Lagos to Accra and now Abuja, we keep moving, decentralizing, connecting, and building the creative ecosystem we all deserve. Here’s to more conversations, more courage, and more change. ✨ Which City should be the stage for the Speaking Dance Conference 2026? 😎 Convener and creative director @phaith.ot Project manager: @callme_mayree Communications: @_christoph_create Powered by @beghastfoundation Presented in partnership with @iplan.ng Supported by @ifnigeria @slumtostage Endorsed by the Guild of Nigerian Dancers GOND 🎥 @anthoniaegwoyi ✨💛 #speakingdance2025 #rhythmrightsrevenue #beghastfoundation #creativeeconomy #nigeriadanceindustry #dance #abuja #nigeria #conference #culture