Some of the budding dancers selected at the Lagos audition for the Maltina Dance All have said that they are prepared to give the race all it takes. They note in separate interviews that it was zeal and determination that have, so far, taken them to the current level.
Eight promising dancing talents — Blessing Ekpo, 21; Gloria Idundun, 24; Promise Enweribe 23; Peter James 22; Aniebet Emmanuel 22; Emmanuel Ibeotuche 21; Jackson Obinna 23 and Ekwerre Elijah 24 — were identified and selected in Lagos..
Enweribe, an undergraduate and one of the qualifiers that demonstrated raw talents and was selected, notes that over the past four years, Maltina has motivated him and his friends to work extremely hard. Two of them eventually made it this year.
“For four years, my friends and I worked tirelessly to stand a chance to feature in the Maltina Dance All show. We enrolled at a dancing school, practising and learning dance styles. We also spent most of our time in the gym to be in good shape. I am extremely happy that today, all my efforts have paid off and I was selected”.
Emmanuel is a Business Management student of the National Open University of Nigeria, while James is a polytechnic student and Idundun, a 24-year old make-up artist.
Although a professional dancer, James says it took him three years of spirited efforts to be selected.
The organisers say in a statement that since the discovery of Ukalina Opuwari, whose family won Season Two of Maltina Dance All, the Maltina brand has been in constant search for raw talents.
Ukalina, later became the first Nigerian female to be certified in Latin/ballroom by the IDSF/IDAT in Beirut, Lebanon, and he is one of the judges at the auditions.