‘Nagaland Dance Battle’ champion Kivikye Chophy from Dimapur (2nd left) and runner-up Putulemla from Tuli (2nd right) with the other semi finalists. (Musika Events @musikaevents/Facebook)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | October 29
The prize distribution ceremony of ‘Nagaland Dance Battle’ took place today at Hotel Japfu, Kohima.
The champion Kivikye Chophy from Dimapur and runner-up Putulemla from Tuli received Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 20,000 respectively.
‘Nagaland Dance Battle,’ is an online dance competition organised by Musik-A in collaboration with Kripa Foundation and sponsored by department of social welfare, Nagaland.
With the theme “Get high on dance, not on drugs,” the event started on September 5 and culminated on October 18.
Speaking at the prize distribution ceremony, K. Atoli Sema, director social welfare said that Nasha Mukt Bharat or Addition Free India is a campaign launched on 15th August 2020. Awareness programme were supposed to have been organized in institutions across Nagaland. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic, social welfare department has been organizing only through virtual mode.
Nagaland Dance Battle is one such programmes aimed at creating awareness on negative impact of substance abuse in the society.
She urged upon the winners including all the contestants to continue to spread the message through various means and platforms.
“I believe we will together win our battle against the menace of substance abuse,” she said and urged one and all to continue to be ambassador and agent of change.
Further, the director urged all the stakeholders “to join us in our efforts to make “Addition Free Nagaland” or Addition Free India.”
Chairing the function, Alobo Naga, director Musik-A informed that a workshop with Jong, a celebrity judge for the Nagaland Dance Battle (a backup dancer & choreographer of famous Kpop groups like BTS, GOT7 etc). will be held next week with top 20 contestants
Vote of thanks was proposed by Bendang Imsong, co-ordinator Kripa Foundation.
Journey of Nagaland Dance Battle
It is a solo dance competition where dancers, irrespective of age, gender and dance forms came together online for the first time to compete for the title from their respective place during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Only bonafide citizen of Nagaland were eligible for this year’s competition. The online battle consisted 5 rounds- Online Selection, Round of 16, Quarter, semi and final.
Altogether, the organizer received more than 300 entries from Mumbai, Delhi, Patna, Bangalore, Mizoram, Manipur, Arunachal & across India, but unfortunately it had to take only the participants from Nagaland for this year and shortlisted only 237 participants for the competition.
It had participants from all over Nagaland like Noklak, Tuli, Mon, Naginimora, Phek, Pfutsero, Kohima, Dimapur, Wokha, Zunheboto, Mokokchung, Alichen, Tuensang etc. Also had many participants from the rural areas across Nagaland.
It also had many non Naga participants residing in Nagaland and also from Nagas residing & studying outside Nagaland.
The participants were between the age of 6 to 30.
Insights & overview
By the time the competition started, it had more than 7 lakh views in a week, and went upto 10 lakhs in the next week. It reached more than 1 lakh Instagram accounts over the competition.
Promotion & awareness
All the 237 dancers shared a placard with the message “Get high on dance, not on drugs” and uploaded across their social media platforms.
It shared creatives on awareness on drug abuse, all throughout the competition.
The final dance battle choreography was on the theme “SAY NO TO DRUGS”.
Judges
Jong, a backup dancer & choreographer of famous KPOP groups like BTS, GOT7 etc. from South Korea was the celebrity judge. He was accompanied by Virieno Zakiesato, choreographer & Creative movement artist and Kokliba, dance instructor at Petros dance studio, alumni of Rajeev Goswami Company of Dance from Nagaland for the jury.
Winners
Champion: Kivikye Chophy
2nd: Putulemla
Semi finalists: Tenjong Chungdok and Johny Kithan
Sub title winners
*Best choreography: Tenjong
*Most promising dancer: Lasola Kips, Gwanilo Seb & Asen
*Youngest dancers: Diya Das, Jentiren and Alona Assumi
*Viewer’s choice award: Johny Kithan
