Annual Dancers Association of Zimbabwe (Daz) Awards Today

The annual Dancers Association of Zimbabwe (Daz) awards meant to appreciate and recognise the work of dancers are set for Harare’s City Sports Bar tonight.

With dancers being snubbed in various national awards, Daz president Hapaguti “Hapaz” Mapimhidze said they decided to appreciate their own.

“We have been snubbed and continue to be snubbed and as a way to recognise our own, we came up with this initiative,” he said.

He said unlike other awards in the country, they will also be honouring musicians whose songs are popular with dancers.

Among the singers are Franco Slomo, Lady Storm, Alick Macheso and Flame Ndombele whose songs dominate the dancing field.

“Despite being overlooked by others, we will not go along that route.
“Our awards will be recognising musicians whose music has become popular with our dancers.
“We believe we should be accommodative,” he said.

Veteran dancers among them Apama, Bev, Wasu and Zoey are also in the running for the awards.
The awards have broken from the norm where established groups would dominate, with a number of new names in the running for recognition.

They have also separated categories having individual and group categories.

The awards will also recognise best dancers in various genres of music.

“We have tried to be accommodative, including young talent and the music category.
“We also have the best video category for our dancers who are in music production to be motivated.
“We have managed to separate categories based on genres of music and not have blanket adjudication.
“We have those who are best in sungura, rhumba and dancehall,” he said.