By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
The Head of the Department of Dance Studies at the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, Dr Terry Bright Ofosu, says he was “shocked” and “distraught” after some of his students requested the removal of a popular dance video because their families were unaware they were studying dance.
Dr Ofosu said the incident occurred after the department shared a dance performance video on social media. The video gained significant attention online, but several students later approached him with concerns.
“I was shocked when my dance students told me they did not want to be posted on social media because their parents did not know they were pursuing dance,” he said.
Speaking in a recent interview, Dr Ofosu explained that the students feared being recognised in the video because their parents were unaware of their involvement in dance studies.
According to him, the situation exposed the tension between the public nature of performance-based training and the private expectations some families hold regarding career choices.
Dr Ofosu described the students’ request as particularly distressing, saying it reflected the challenges many young people still face when choosing careers in the performing arts.
Dance as a profession continues to face social stigma in some Ghanaian households, where parents often encourage their children to pursue careers perceived as more conventional or financially secure.
These attitudes can lead some students to keep their involvement in the performing arts hidden from family members until they complete their studies or establish themselves professionally.
