Though the Jibilika Dance Trust has been struggling to access funding this year leading to it failing to host as many activities as it usually does, the team has managed to come up with a brilliant package for its annual dance festival.

Unlike other years were groups and individuals would win cash prizes, this year winners get to go to Paris.

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“The main highlight of this year’s festival which runs from August 18-19, is that we are hosting the French freestyle one versus one dance Battle Rivalskool at Theatre in the Park on the Saturday of the festival,” said Jibilika director Nyaradzo Nhongonhema.

Zimbabwe becomes the first African country to host a preselection.

Battle Rivalskool is an international Hip-Hop dance competition created in 2008 by Narmer Lite.

“It is based on the association of freestyle dance and stage play, all with exclusively Hip-Hop music. It is in the heart of the city of the enlightenment, Paris , that dancers from all over France and the world confront each other, through atypical stages.

“The event will cover an improvisation workshop and a one versus one freestyle dance battle covering several hip hop and African dance styles,” she added.

She said winners will also get a chance to teach hip-hop and traditional dance at schools in Paris.

“Winners at the Jibilika festival will contest at the finale in France at Rivalskool, in Paris on December 10.

“The finalists will also get a chance to teach hip-hop and traditional dance at some Paris schools and also an opportunity to interact and exchange with local dancers.”

Rivalskool founder, Nemar Lite had this to say about the festival,“The aim of Rivalskool team is to create presets in different countries to facilitate access to the competition by erasing geographical or financial constraints.

“By combining Jibilika Festival and Rivalskool, we want to inaugurate a lasting artistic collaboration between France and Zimbabwe.”

This year’s Jibilika Dance Festival is the tenth edition and will run under the theme ’10 UP’.

“Our theme is a testament and a reflection of this year’s festival. We are hosting this festival under difficult circumstances and on a zero budget owing to the liquidity crunch and challenges in securing funding.

“However, we are undeterred and determined to prove the power of collaboration and youth energy which has sustained us this far,” said Nhongonhema.

The festival will kick off on Friday the 18th of August with a dance workshop at Jibilika Dance Academy, a street cypher at Joina City and the official opening ceremony in the evening which will pay tribute to everyone who contributed towards the vision and journey.

Saturday will be the main highlight of the festival with the hosting of the French freestyle one versus one dance Battle Rivalskool at Theatre in the Park.