Drama Company For Peace Cultural Festival

The National Drama Company based at the National Theatre, has been selected to represent Ghana in a Peace Cultural Festival (World Cultural Open 2004) in South Korea from September 11-19. This is to enable them showcase the best of Ghanaian culture through traditional dance and dance drama.

Even though this is not the first time such an exchange and invitation has come, it is quite significant because it will bring together other groups from other nations. The World Cultural Open (WCO) is an International non-profit organisation that creates avenues for all people engaged in the creative arts to share, celebrate and experience each other?s cultural traditions.

The trip is in accordance with a Cultural Agreement signed between the People?s Republic of Korea and the Ghana government on June 20, 1980. The essence of the agreement is to create close relations between the two nations as well as identify possible mutual benefits.

Mr Mike Amon Kwafo, member of the National Theatre IMC who gave an overview of the Company?s participation at a press briefing, said as part of the benefits, the trip would help market Ghana culture and arts to the outside world. It would also help form new partnerships between Ghana and other nations. This he said will go a long way to help the country economically.

As part of the press briefing, the press was given a bit of what the group will be performing in South Korea. Led by the director, Dzifa Glikpoe, they opened their performance with a beautiful Adowa dance which was followed by a spectacular dance drama.

The chairperson for the occasion, Miss Joyce Aryee, in her address further explained that the National Dance Company had been asked to represent Ghana because they did not just represent the National Theatre as a building but as true representatives of Ghanaian Arts and Culture.

She further thanked the Ghana Tourist Board and the Korean Embassy for their support in sponsoring all the members of the group on the trip.