Bendancer nears historic 168-hour dance record
Nigerian dancer and choreographer Benjamin Daniel Gabriel, popularly known as Bendancer, is closing in on a potential Guinness World Records milestone after spending seven consecutive days dancing at Freedom Park in Lagos.
If his 168-hour dance marathon is validated, he will surpass the current published record of 127 hours and set a new benchmark for the longest dance marathon by an individual.
*Benjamin Daniel Gabriel
Abimbola Joseph
Nigerian dancer and choreographer Benjamin Daniel Gabriel, popularly known as Bendancer, is closing in on a potential Guinness World Records milestone after spending seven consecutive days dancing at Freedom Park in Lagos.
If his 168-hour dance marathon is validated, he will surpass the current published record of 127 hours and set a new benchmark for the longest dance marathon by an individual.
The 33-year-old began the endurance challenge on September 21 and is expected to complete the marathon on Tuesday, September 29. The feat has drawn large crowds to Freedom Park and generated significant attention across social media, where supporters have followed his journey in real time.
At the heart of the attempt is more than a record chase. Bendancer says the marathon is designed to spotlight Nigerian and African dance culture on a global stage.
Throughout the challenge, he has incorporated a variety of local dance styles and music genres, including Afrobeats, fuji, jazz and zouk. He has also appeared in traditional attire such as agbada and dashiki to showcase Nigeria’s cultural diversity.
A veteran performer with 18 years of professional experience, Bendancer has built a career spanning choreography, creative direction, dance consultancy, modelling and fitness instruction. He is the founder of Bendancer Academy International, an organisation dedicated to training, mentoring and developing emerging dance talents.
Before launching the academy, he served as the North-East Zonal Dance Coordinator for the Dance Guild of Nigeria, where he focused on talent development and dance advocacy. He has also performed with Made Kuti and The Movement, and has been described as the first male dancer to perform within the Kuti family’s performance tradition at the New Afrika Shrine.
His performance résumé includes appearances at Felabration, the 2021 Big Brother Naija finale, Trophy Shout International Festival, Global Citizenship events and Project Asia.
The marathon has transformed Freedom Park into a major public attraction, with supporters, cultural enthusiasts and guest performers, including Made Kuti, turning out to encourage him. Videos from the event have continued to gain traction online, further boosting interest in the record attempt.
Under Guinness World Records guidelines for marathon activities, participants may accumulate five minutes of rest for every hour of continuous performance.
Bendancer has reportedly managed the challenge by strategically using these breaks, maintaining hydration and following medical supervision throughout the event.
Despite nearing the 168-hour target, an official Guinness World Records title is not guaranteed. The organisation must first review and verify all evidence from the attempt before deciding whether a new record has been set.
For now, Bendancer remains focused on the final stretch of an endurance challenge that has captured national attention and could place both his name and Nigerian dance history in the Guinness World Records books.
