The 2015 edition of the popular Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Competition roars into life on Saturday with Mashonaland East being the first province to host the event.
About 10 groups drawn from all the nine districts in the province will take battle for top position at Murewa Cocktail Bar with the winner booking a ticket to the 52nd national finals to be held in the capital in the next few months.
"I am going to Murewa for venue inspection, that is to see whether there is progress as we prepare for the big day," Enerst Njaravani, a National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) provincial programmes officer said.
Popular Jerusarema/Mbende ensemble Ngoma Dzepasi who won the national final competition last year will be the guest group and are billed to perform at the event.
The Neshamwari Dance Festival is targeted at dance groups and was aimed at practicing and preserving traditional dances through this festival.
The festival which run in partnership with the Chibuku Brand has generated a lot of interest among the young and older generations in Zimbabwe.
The programme has managed to revive and preserve Zimbabwe's rich dance culture.
Today Zimbabwe dance troupes have toured almost all the corners of the world exhibiting the country's traditional dances. The festival was started with the aim of demonstrating and encouraging participation in traditional dancing.
The dance competition is a collaborative effort between the Zimbabwe National Traditional Dance Association and the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.
The main sponsor is Delta Beverages through its Chibuku brand.