Contemporary dancer and choreographer, Benjamin Daniel Gabriel, widely known as Bendancer, has concluded his 168-hour non-stop dance marathon at Freedom Park, Lagos.
Gabriel finished the nine-day endurance feat in the early hours of Tuesday, 29 September, having commenced on 21 September, in an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the longest dance marathon by an individual.
If confirmed, his 168-hour target will overtake the existing record of 127 hours held by Indian dancer Srushti Sudhir Jagtap since 2023.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Dancer Set for Longest Dance Marathon Record
The closing hours at Freedom Park took on a carnival atmosphere as supporters, colleagues and well-wishers thronged the venue to witness the final moments of the marathon.
Clips from the finale have already gone viral across social media platforms.
Gabriel is a professional dancer with 18 years of experience spanning choreography, creative direction, modelling, fitness instruction and dance consultancy.
He is the founder of Bendancer Academy International, an institution that trains and mentors young dancers, and had previously served as the North-East Zonal Dance Coordinator for the Dance Guild of Nigeria.
He has also performed alongside Made Kuti and The Movement, where he is recognised as the first male dancer to feature in the Kuti family tradition at the New Afrika Shrine.
His performance portfolio includes Felabration, the 2021 Big Brother Naija finale and several international festivals.
During the marathon, Bendancer exhibited Nigeria’s cultural diversity, fusing Afrobeats, fuji, jazz and zouk, and appearing in traditional attires such as agbada and dashiki.
In line with Guinness World Records regulations, he was permitted five minutes of rest for every hour danced, which could be accumulated.
Reports indicate that he utilised the breaks in blocks, with a medical team on standby and light meals provided throughout.
Although the 168-hour milestone has been attained, official certification is still pending.
Guinness World Records will assess all submitted evidence before announcing a new record holder.
The Nation
