The Koroso Dance
The Koroso dance is one of the most popular traditional dances in Nigeria. The Koroso dance is a colourful and athletic dance of the Hausa/Fulani tribe that has been performed for centuries. The founders of the first Koroso Dance Group made selections of movement from various traditional dances of the Fulani and Hausa people of Kano State and put the dances together in form of a single cultural dance group called the ‘Koroso dance’. The name was derived from the rattle tied around the dancers’ legs.
Interestingly, the dance has over the years become popular in Kano State, as all important events are graced with the presence and performance of the dance group.
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Koroso dance is not the most complicated one among the existing traditional dances in Nigeria; still, it requires a lot of attention and skills. The dance is performed by strong and energetic youths because it demands the use of every part of the body, with special attention paid to uniformity and precision in movement and dance steps.
Usually, the dancers perform in pairs, sometimes assisting each other to achieve impossible shapes and striving individually to outdo the other. It is an incredibly beautiful and entertaining dance.
The dancers are adorned with multicolored costumes such as beads, bracelets, and anklets made of rattling beads called ‘Koroso’, after which the dance is named. The dance is accompanied by a flute called “Sarewa” which produces several traditional musical notes that lead the dancers on as they perform the dance, showing their agility and strength. The dance is performed in such a way that a change in the music dictates the change from one dancing style to another.
Almost 50 years since its creation, Koroso dance remains a contemporary folk dance that is performed mostly during social events such as turbaning of an Emir and marriage ceremonies.
However, the most popular place to watch and enjoy the dance performance is at the Gidan Makama Museum in Kano state. Constructed in the 15th century, the Gidan Makama Museum is one of the oldest museums in the world, with a significant collection of arts, crafts, and items of historic interest related to the Kano area.
Have you ever witnessed the Koroso dance performance? kindly share your experience with us.