Eustace congratulates ‘Ole George’ for breaking dance record

Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace has extended a congratulatory note to Earl ‘Ole George’ Daniel on the achievement of his record breaking dance in Inukjuak, Quebec, Canada, an Inuit settlement.{{more}}

According to Eustace, at 5:40 local time on the morning of Tuesday, April 3, Daniel completed the feat.

Daniel’s dance exceeded the 123 hour and 15 minute record set by Kalamandalam Hemaletha of India in Thrissur, Kerala, India, in September 2010.

But the Leader of the Opposition not only commended Daniel for breaking the record, he said that it was done for a worthy cause.

He explained that Daniel, who does social work in the Nunavik region of Quebec, completed the 6 continuous days of dancing on behalf of the Inuit people in that region.

“They have one of the highest suicide rates, and Earl ‘Ole George’ Daniel has gone up there and has been working there as a social worker, and to bring attention to the plight of the people, he took a decision to dance,” Eustace explained.

“I really want to congratulate him on his achievement and the cause for which he danced,” he continued.

According to Eustace, based on the comments expressed following the completion of the feat, it was obvious how appreciative the people of the area were for his contribution.

He added that those who spoke included surviving members of families who had lost loved ones to suicide.

As Daniel neared the completion of his feat, residents of the area organized a parade to the community centre, where they held a feast to encourage him in the last stretch of his dance-a-thon, the Nunatsiaq online newspaper reported.

It is anticipated that Daniel’s accomplishment will make it in the Guinness Book of World Records following two previous unsuccessful bids.

He had tried to make it doing a six day non-stop walk in St Vincent back in 2005 and a seven day walk in Jamaica in 2006.

“So I am expecting to hear that he is now in the Guinness Book of Records,” Eustace said, adding that the officials were on hand to witness the proceedings.

He further contended that Daniel should be congratulated for his achievement.

In an interview last month with I-Witness News, Daniel said he planned to dance to a variety of music, including Inuit as well as conventional genre.

“I have to carefully select the rhythm because the different pace, the different rhythm will allow me to rest and prevent me from falling asleep while dancing.”

According to the Guinness World Records’ rules, Daniel was allowed rest for 30 seconds between each song, none of which can be shorter than 2.5 minutes. He also has the option of dancing for one hour consecutively, thereby accumulating about five-minutes for rest.

“I am going to go with Option B – dancing for two or three hours straight so I can accumulate 10 or 15 minutes to use the bathroom in that time. Because it would be another record in itself to use the bathroom in 30 seconds,” Daniel told I-Witness News.(DD)