VICTORIA, Seychelles — The Gilland Dance Company, a delegation of 11 individuals including seven dancers, three judges and one official, will represent Seychelles in the upcoming World Artistic Dance Federation competition, which will be held in Moscow, Russia, on March 29 and 30, 2025. The group will present the country’s identity through traditional, contemporary and Afrobeat dance styles.
In a sending-off ceremony yesterday at the National Theatre, the delegation received air tickets and other documents to facilitate the trip, which has been sponsored by various partners and private businesses. A key supporter is the Russian embassy in Seychelles, which has played an instrumental role in facilitating the team’s journey. Additionally, Seychelles will be proudly represented on the judging panel, with two local dance instructors, Daniella Rose from the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts and Deborah Fanchette from the Seychelles National Youth Council.
Senior dance instructor Ruth Barbe said it was a great honour for all the dancers and the School of Dance to participate in such a competition. ‘We thank all the sponsors, especially the Russian embassy, for making this trip possible,’ Ms Barbe said. Russian ambassador to Seychelles, Artem Kozhin, shared that during the past couple of years, the relations between Russia and Seychelles have seen outstanding development, especially in the fields of education, sports and culture. The team took a souvenir photograph with guests at the ceremony, which also featured a dance performance.
