Ben Dancer is attempting to dance continuously for 168 hours, a feat that would surpass the existing record of 127 hours by 41 hours.
The current record was set in 2023 by Indian dancer Srushti Sudhir Jagtap, who was 16 at the time of her achievement. Her record-setting performance centred largely on kathak, one of India’s major classical dance traditions.
Ben Dancer’s attempt began on Tuesday, September 22, at Freedom Park in Lagos. If he completes the planned 168 hours, he is expected to reach his target early on Tuesday morning.
However, Guinness World Records has yet to confirm whether the Nigerian dancer’s attempt qualifies as an official record. The organisation had not confirmed the status of the attempt as of the time of reporting.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the official recognition of the feat, the performance has attracted significant public attention, particularly among young Nigerians who have gathered at Freedom Park to encourage the dancer.
Supporters have been filming his performance, cheering him on and, in some cases, dancing alongside him from behind the barriers.
One of those who came to watch, Uche Anumudu, described the experience as an emotional one.
"It's a beautiful moment. Seeing how far he has come and witnessing him achieve this feat made me incredibly proud and grateful to God," Anumudu told the BBC.
Dancing Through Nigeria’s Cultural Diversity
Beyond the physical challenge, Ben Dancer’s team says the marathon is intended to showcase Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage and evolving entertainment culture.
Throughout the attempt, he has incorporated a wide range of Nigerian and international musical styles, with Afrobeats featuring prominently alongside genres such as fuji, jazz and zouk.
His performances have also included traditional Nigerian clothing. At various points, he has exchanged his usual dancewear for outfits including the flowing agbada and the colourful dashiki.
The choice of music, clothing and dance styles is intended to highlight Nigeria’s cultural diversity, with the country home to more than 250 ethnic groups and a vast array of traditions.
According to his team, the performance is therefore about more than endurance. It is also an attempt to celebrate the different cultural influences that make up contemporary Nigerian identity.
Preparation and Medical Support
Ben Dancer, who has been dancing professionally for 18 years, reportedly underwent intensive physical preparation before beginning the marathon.
His training involved changes to his diet, with a greater focus on carbohydrates, as well as cardiovascular conditioning designed to prepare his body for prolonged physical exertion.
During the attempt, he has been eating lightly and maintaining his fluid intake while observing the permitted rest allowance.
He has chosen to accumulate his permitted five minutes of rest for every continuous hour of activity, allowing him to dance for several hours before taking a longer break.
A medical team has also been stationed at Freedom Park to monitor him and provide assistance when required.
The prolonged nature of the challenge has nevertheless raised concerns among some spectators, who have watched his physical condition change over the course of the attempt.
Moronumubo Akodu, who has visited the venue several times to support the dancer, said she admired his determination while acknowledging the demanding nature of the challenge.
"It is actually insane but I am so proud of him," she said.
Emmanuel Ulelu, another supporter who visited the performance twice, said the physical strain was noticeable during the early stages of the marathon.
"On day two, you could see the stress," he said.
"Even after just three hours of dancing at the location myself, I wondered how he would keep going."
However, when Ulelu returned 16 hours into the fifth day, he said he noticed a change in Ben Dancer’s energy levels.
"It reminded me that we're capable of doing unbelievable things when how badly we want something matches and surpasses the difficulty of achieving it," he said.
Growing Nigerian Interest in World Records
Ben Dancer’s challenge comes amid growing public interest in Guinness World Records attempts in Nigeria, particularly following a number of high-profile endurance feats.
One of the most notable was Nigerian chef Hilda Baci’s cooking marathon in Lagos in 2023. She cooked continuously for 93 hours and 11 minutes, with Guinness World Records officially recognising the performance as a new record at the time.
Baci’s achievement generated widespread attention across Nigeria and inspired a surge of interest in record-breaking attempts.
Guinness World Records subsequently said it received more than 1,500 applications from Nigeria within two months of Baci’s cook-a-thon. The applications covered a wide variety of proposed achievements, including reading, singing and crocheting.
While Ben Dancer’s attempt has generated a similar wave of public interest, its status as an official Guinness World Records achievement will depend on the organisation’s assessment of whether all the relevant rules and requirements have been met.
For now, the dancer continues his marathon at Freedom Park, supported by crowds of spectators determined to witness whether he can complete the gruelling 168-hour challenge.