Nigerian Dancer Bendancer Completes 168-Hour Dance Marathon, Targets Guinness World Record

Nigerian contemporary dancer and choreographer Benjamin Daniel Gabriel, popularly known as Bendancer, has completed a 168-hour non-stop dance marathon at Freedom Park, Lagos.

Gabriel concluded the nine-day endurance challenge in the early hours of Tuesday, September 29, after commencing the marathon on September 21.

The performance was staged in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest dance marathon by an individual.

If verified by Guinness World Records, Gabriel’s 168-hour performance would surpass the current record of 127 hours, set by Indian dancer Srushti Sudhir Jagtap in 2023.

The final moments of the marathon drew a carnival-like atmosphere at Freedom Park, with supporters, fellow dancers and well-wishers gathering to witness Gabriel complete the challenge.

Gabriel, who has 18 years of professional experience, has worked across choreography, creative direction, modelling, fitness instruction and dance consultancy.

He is the founder of Bendancer Academy International, where he trains and mentors young dancers. He also previously served as the North-East Zonal Dance Coordinator for the Dance Guild of Nigeria.

His performance credits include appearances with Made Kuti and The Movement. He has also featured at Felabration, the 2021 Big Brother Naija finale and several international festivals.

During the marathon, Gabriel showcased Nigeria’s cultural diversity by incorporating dance styles including Afrobeats, fuji, jazz and zouk. He also performed in traditional Nigerian outfits, including agbada and dashiki.

Under the Guinness World Records rules for the attempt, Gabriel was permitted five minutes of rest for every hour danced, with the rest periods allowed to be accumulated.

His 168-hour performance will now be subject to the Guinness World Records’ verification process before any new record can be officially recognised.