Maltina dance

By  Adaeze Anaekwe
When the first season of the Maltina Dance All, debuted across in 2006, it was no surprise that the show was an instant success. It was fresh, hip and all about uniting families. Now in its 6th season tagged, “The Most Spectacular”, we highlight the journey so far, as the curtain fell on the Malitna Dance All (MDA) family reality television show on September 22, where the Green family went home with the six million naira and a brand new car, Efikowu took home a million naira and the Eghove family N500, 000.

The show is the foremost experiential and sponsorship platform of the Maltina brand renowned for “sharing happiness”, promoting and enhancing family values and bonding between different families from cultures across the country. Maltina, a premium non-alcoholic malt brand from the stable of Nigeria Breweries Plc, sponsors the highly entertaining show.

After rigorous screening and intensive competition process spanning more than a month, these five Nigerian families - The Efiokwu’s, Green’s, Eghove’s, Boyle’s and Zibe’s made it to the Grand Finale for the coveted title of the triumphant winner which took place at the Expo Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The race officially kicked off on Sunday September 2 with 10 families, however, five families were unable to survive the various dance styles that were introduced in the Maltina Dance All Academy including the Wazobia, Salsa, Pantomime, Gumboot, Hip-Hop and Contemporary African Dance Styles.

The five families that made it to this level were able to survive the 6 different dance styles. From the 10 families that made it to the academy, the first set that were evicted were the Ozurumba and Nwogwugwu families – according to one of the judges, they failed to convince them after the Wazobia and Salsa performances. The Wazobia performances had placed the Ozurumba and Nwogwugwu families for eviction while the salsa performance placed the Okasia family as the only family up for possible eviction.

The second phase of the show was the contemporary African and Gumboot dances. After the performances the Amilo, Efiokwu and Onyebuagu families were put up for possible eviction. At the eviction show down, the four families came back to compete and the judges did what had never been done before in the history of the show – They saved two families, the Onyebuagu’s and Efiokwu’s – and gave the audience an opportunity to vote between the Amilo’s and Okasia’s.  The Okasia family were excited as the audience voted them back into the academy and thanked the audience for restoring their hope of winning the grand prize and unfortunately eliminating the Amilo’s. It is remarkable to note that the Amilo family was thankful even in defeat. After their eviction, they thanked Maltina for making it that far in the academy.

After the second eviction showdown, the families were introduced to the last two dance styles, which will usher them to the grand finale – the Hip-Hop and Pantomime dance styles. Soon after the hip-hop performance, the Zibe’s and Okasia’s were put up for eviction, making it the third eviction nomination for the Okasia’s. After the Patomime performance, the Onyebuagu’s and Boyle’s were placed on possible eviction, the first time for the Boyle’s.

After failing to impress the judges, the Onyebuagu’s and Okasia’s, were evicted from the academy setting the stage for the five remaining families to compete for the grand prize.

Expressing their joy, the five final families promised to make it through the grand finale. Ifeoma Efiokwu, the representative of the Efiokwu’s promised to give her very best, saying“Being in the grand finale is a dream come true for my family and I and by the special grace of God. We are going to come out with our best dance ever.”

Millions of regular television viewers in Nigeria since 2006, when Maltina Dance All, was introduced, would attest that the show has no doubt, remained Nigeria’s first and only family dance TV show featuring families from various regions across the country. From the 2007 edition which produced the Onye Family as winners, Maltina Dance All has gone through five highly successful seasons.

In 2008 it was the Opuwari Family that carted away the star prize. In 2009, the Ibiams were voted the nation’s best dance family. The Adejoh’s were champions in 2010, while in 2011, the Ekubo’s were crowned the best.  Nigerians are asked to keep their fingers crossed for next season.