Picture: AFP / Benson Ibeabuchi . Hey Pandas, How Did You Get Over Depression? Every day after school, Mr. Ajala’s 12 students walk to his apartment, where he pushes aside his furniture and spreads a thin vinyl sheet over the concrete floor for class, throwing open the doors and windows to let in the light. I hope to see Nigeria on the map internationally so that we can build a cultural exchange program that provides proper learning, exposure and opportunities for our youth. A post shared by Leap of Dance Academy (@leapofdanceacademy) on Jun 17, 2020 at 6:32pm PDT. 4,863 Likes, 176 Comments - Leap of Dance Academy (@leapofdanceacademy) on Instagram: “⬇️ We are excited to announce that Our student ;Anthony Mmmesoma Madu (Grade 1 ballet) student has…” Please enter your email to complete registration. Reuters/Seun Sanni Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app. I dream of bringing international teachers to Nigeria to inspire our students. It's so much more than just dance. Daniel Ajala Owoseni, who is Anthony’s teacher, founded this school in Lagos in 2017. If you don't have the resources, create something out of nothing. Anthony Mmesoma Madu, an 11-year-old ballet dancer, poses during a rehearsal with other students at the Leap of Dance Academy in Lagos, Nigeria. Hey Pandas, Show Us Your Cool Grandparents/Great-Grandparents, Video Of Cocker Spaniel With "Disney" Looks Goes Viral On TikTok. Nigerian Boy, 11, Earns Scholarship Offers After Video of Him Dancing in the Rain Goes Viral this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Recently, a video of him dancing in the rain barefoot went viral and even managed to earn him a scholarship to a prestigious US summer workshop. “Within a day I was trying to find him.”. Check your inbox, and click on the link to activate your account. With the amazing blessing of technology, our studio has come into contact with Leap of Dance Academy in Nigeria and they need our help! So many people have led them to believe that because they're Black, Nigerian and come from poverty, that they can't be successful or have opportunities. A boy in his ballet outfit Leap of Dance Academy is a ballet school in Lagos with an objective to teach classical dance to underprivileged children in Nigeria. “We are trying to change stereotypes around ballet dance. I want them to know that they can overcome adversity and make their dreams a reality. Contemporary Dance. Here's our grading system according to the American ballet school system: Our students were using the RAD system Primary ballet 2 Grade 1 Grade 3 These were the grades we had previously. I loved ballet because it was so different from what I saw growing up. How beautiful and inspiring! Students of the Leap of Dance Academy pose for portrait in at Ajangbadi, Lagos, on July 3, 2020. Julija Svidraitė is a Bored Panda writer and photo editor who recently got her bachelor's degree in Psychology. In a surrealist and deeply emotional film directed by Sara Silkin, the dancers of "LOST MIND," Hyosun Choi and JM Rodriguez of L.A. He has that already. Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Ajala is the founder and creative director of the Leap of Dance Academy, which provides ballet classes for young dancers. Founder We now have 12 consistent students that I teach each week. Leap of Dance Academy Actually that all is the main reason he was chosen unless you are claiming there are no 11 year old who love dancing ballet or have talent and would love to have dance academy scholarship because they deserve it. I do my best to be an example and show that if I can push through without resources, you can. Daniel Owoseni Ajala has had quite a summer. Nigeria academy looks to spread ballet among Lagos poor. Very hard to do that at the moment with Covid 19 rife in the world. Although Silkin's inspiration stemmed from her personal relationship with her father, her message has become increasingly relatable following a year defined by historical events and experiences that have impacted the mental health of many. He is a child of 11, for heaven's sake! Being Black can come with being sidelined and not being included. Boys can actually do ballet,” the teacher told the BBC. By Benson Ibeabuchi (AFP) A small group of Nigerian girls and boys wearing leotards and leggings limber up in a spare room at a run-down primary school with patches of damp on the … Performing also requires a certain...charisma and pizzazz. Sponsored by Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Sponsored by USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, How Seyi Oluyole Uses Dance to Rescue Nigeria's Street Children ... ›, 11-year-old Nigerian ballet dancer receives scholarship after viral ... ›, Nigeria: 11-year old dancer challenges ballet stereotypes - BBC News ›, How a boy went from dancing barefoot in the streets to viral ballet star ›, Friday Film Break: Sara Silkin's "LOST MIND" for L.A. “Male ballet dancing is here to stay and it is not only supposed to be for females.”. Gorgeous student of Leap of Dance … The clip went viral, leading to major scholarship opportunities and coverage from news outlets around the world. A video of him dancing barefoot in the rain on concrete outside the studio where he trains, the Leap of Dance Academy, went viral last month. “It made us just feel very overwhelmed and grateful. Let's keep in touch and we'll send more your way. As of now, that space is only available twice a week, so every other time we get together, I teach my students out of my home. I didn't even catch that when I read the article, I thought it was a real workshop. For now, the Leap of Dance Academy is housed at the home of its founder, Daniel Owoseni Ajala, in Ajangbadi, Ojo, on the western outskirts of Lagos. Moreover, she offered him a scholarship to a virtual three-week intensive summer workshop in the US. 52. This video was shared by his dance school, which is called Leap of Dance Academy. While nowadays, many people like to point out all the bad things surrounding social media and the internet in general (which, of course, there are plenty of), this story is a reminder of how the World Wide Web can work as a means to achieve great things. Anthony Mmesoma Madu, an 11-year-old ballet dancer, poses during a rehearsal with other students at the Leap of Dance Academy in Lagos, Nigeria July 27, 2020. The Leap of Dance Academy, founded by Daniel Ajala, is a ballet school in Lagos that provides quality ballet education to indigenous young dancers in Nigeria. A ballet student of the Leap of Dance Academy in a poor district Lagos, Nigeria. Get the latest inspiring stories via our awesome iOS app! Currently, that's not available to us. 23.2k Likes, 613 Comments - Leap of Dance Academy (@leapofdanceacademy) on Instagram: “As a dance school in Africa, and Nigeria to be precise our academy stands to educate our audience…” Ballet is about cultural exchange, and when those exchanges are not available, it makes progress feel that much harder. Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here. Precious Duru, a student of the Leap of Dance Academy, performs a dance routine in the Ajangbadi neighbourhood of the Nigerian capital Lagos on July 3. AFP AFP A small group of Nigerian girls and boys wearing leotards and leggings limber up in a spare room at a run-down primary school with patches of damp on the walls. Saved from instagram.com. Fortunately, Cynthia Harvey finally succeeded in tracking Anthony down. For now, the Leap of Dance Academy is housed at the home of its founder, Daniel Owoseni Ajala, in Ajangbadi, Ojo, on the western outskirts of Lagos. Friday, 07 Aug 2020 09:33 PM MYT. (Source: Reuters) (Source: Reuters) After a video of him dancing an elegant pirouette on a muddy street got him noticed on the internet, a 11-year-old Nigerian boy has received a full scholarship from an elite American ballet company. You can read more about it and change your preferences, Get the best of Bored Panda in your inbox. — Reuters pic. Founder Daniel Ajala Owoseni said he will use the money, and fame, to promote ballet in Nigeria, a … The main goal for our school is to have our students represent ballet in Nigeria well and bring it to the forefront while showing the elegance of ballet, but also letting our culture shine through,” business and PR representative at Leap of Dance Academy told Bored Panda. By AFP LISTEN JUL 7, 2020 Dancing in the streets: A ballet student of the Leap of Dance Academy in a poor district of Nigerian megacity Lagos. Chinemere Duru, left, practices a pirouette while the other students wait for their turn at the Leap of Dance Academy. Gorgeous student of Leap of Dance Academy in Nigeria Click for more stunning dance photography, videos and more! You provided with an activation link Within a day I was just 9 years old of my former primary,! Mental illness around the world else who was expecting a full facility a. 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