The National Theatre of Ghana came alive with colour, creativity and applause as hundreds of parents, supporters and dignitaries gathered to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Vivie’s Dance and Theatre Academy (VDTA), with Sparkle Day 2026 delivering an inspiring showcase of young talent while unveiling an ambitious vision to expand access to performing arts education across the country.
Held under the theme “EvoluXion: Find X,” the landmark production celebrated a decade of nurturing creativity, confidence, discipline and leadership through the performing arts, as children and young people captivated a packed auditorium with performances that blended dance, drama, music, acrobatics and taekwondo.
The event attracted a distinguished audience that included celebrated creative entrepreneur Chief Moomen of the Bambu Centre, government ministers, ambassadors, members of the diplomatic community, partners and families who joined hundreds of patrons to witness one of the academy’s biggest productions since its establishment.
From the opening act, the audience was treated to an impressive display of artistic excellence as performers demonstrated the results of months of rigorous training and preparation.
Emotional ballet performances depicting home and church life, daring skating routines, vibrant African dance, contemporary choreography and energetic taekwondo displays highlighted the academy’s commitment to developing well-rounded young performers.
One of the evening’s most touching moments came when some of the youngest performers stumbled briefly during their routines. Rather than awkward silence, the packed National Theatre responded with loud applause and encouragement, creating an atmosphere that celebrated resilience, courage and personal growth over perfection.
The night’s grand finale, performed by a select group known as “The X,” brought the audience to its feet. Having received training across multiple artistic disciplines, the performers seamlessly combined ballet, contemporary dance, drama, African dance, acrobatics and taekwondo into a breathtaking performance that earned a prolonged standing ovation.
Beyond the stage performances, the anniversary celebration also honoured the community that has supported the academy’s growth over the past decade.
Loyal families, partner school coordinators and corporate partners received awards in recognition of their dedication and contribution to the academy’s success, with several recipients visibly emotional during the presentations.
Delivering the anniversary address, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of VDTA, Vivian Boateng, reflected on the academy’s ten-year journey of purpose, passion and perseverance while positioning its work within Africa’s growing influence on the global stage.
She said the world was increasingly recognising Africa not merely as a continent of future potential but as a present-day source of innovation, creativity and leadership.
According to her, the children performing on stage represented the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, artists and changemakers who were acquiring skills that extended far beyond dance and performance.
She explained that the academy was teaching young people not only to dance, sing, act and perform, but also to communicate effectively, collaborate with others, think creatively and develop leadership qualities that would prepare them for future opportunities.
Boateng commended the students for their dedication and resilience while expressing appreciation to parents and guardians for their unwavering commitment throughout the academy’s ten-year journey.
She also used the occasion to unveil the academy’s ambitious 10K Legacy Project, a new initiative designed to expand access to quality performing arts education to thousands more children and young people across Ghana.
According to her, the project goes beyond increasing student enrolment by focusing on building long-term capacity within Ghana’s creative economy through the training and certification of a new generation of arts educators and teachers.
She explained that by equipping educators with creative and holistic movement methodologies, the initiative seeks to create sustainable employment opportunities for young people while significantly expanding arts-integrated education throughout the country.
The academy believes the project will help make performing arts education more accessible to children regardless of their backgrounds while strengthening Ghana’s creative and educational sectors.
The impact of Sparkle Day extended beyond the performances, with parents and guests sharing emotional reflections on the transformative role the academy has played in the lives of their children.
Many described the production as one of the finest children’s stage performances they had witnessed, praising the professionalism, discipline and confidence displayed by the young performers.
One parent remarked that while audiences often see only the final performance, they rarely witness the countless hours of vision, sacrifice and hard work invested behind the scenes.
Another parent expressed gratitude for the academy’s role in helping her daughter develop not only as a dancer but also as a confident young girl who believes in herself.
As the curtains closed on Sparkle Day 2026, the sustained standing ovation reflected more than appreciation for an outstanding theatrical production.
It symbolised a celebration of children’s potential, the strength of community support and the growing influence of performing arts in shaping confident, disciplined and creative future leaders.
With the launch of the 10K Legacy Project, Vivie’s Dance and Theatre Academy has signalled that its next decade will focus not only on producing exceptional performances but also on transforming thousands more lives through accessible arts education, teacher development and youth empowerment across Ghana.
