Dancer laments over poor remuneration

A professional dancer, Emmanuel Adejumo (Bois Sala), has lamented over neglect and poor remuneration for dancers in the entertainment industry.
Adejumo, the son of octogenarian comedian, Moses Olaiya Adejumo popularly known as “Baba Sala”, said on Tuesday in Lagos that the issue was disheartening  for those earning a living from dancing.
Adejumo, who is the Publicity Secretary of Guild of Nigerian Dancers (GOND), added that when they are invited to perform at events, their clients always dole out pittance to them.
“You will hear them say is it not to dance, ordinary dance? N400,000? I cannot pay.
“They don’t know that the money will be shared among 25 artistes or thereabout that participated in the dance act.
“But these same clients will not hesitate to pay N1.5m to just one comedian to entertain for five minutes,’’ he said.
He however said in spite of the poor remuneration they were still committed to the profession.
“If not for the passion some of us have for the profession, we would have left but we thank the Lord for staying to see the end.
“It is too bad, only few do appreciate our effort, some should know that we do have wives, we pay our children school fees, we pay house rents.
“We do go to the market to buy things; in fact maybe they think we sleep under the bridge,’’ he said.
Adejumo also said that they could use their craft to promote Nigeria’s culture abroad.
He added that they needed the support of the government to carry out their various programmes.
“If government can implement the cultural policy and fulfill their own part things will get better for us.
“Other countries of the world – India, America and others – use their dance act, creative arts, performing culture and others to sell what they have to the world,’’the dancer added.
Adejumo also called on corporate organisations to empower dancers to enable them thrive in their chosen profession.
“Artistes should be happy by now, but they are not.
“Not all artistes benefit from organisations that organise dance acts,  most artistes do not concentrate on the profession because they are doing other things to make ends meet.”