Photos: Nigerian academy brings joy of ballet to children in Lagos

Updated On Jul 08, 2020 03:12 pm IST

The Leap of Dance Academy in the Nigerian capital of Lagos is one ballet afficionado’s initiative in sharing love for a dance form often seen as the domain of the rich, with his city’s underprivileged children. Since opening its doors in 2017, the academy run by tutor Daniel Ajala has overcome apprehensions about the dance form in the local community and now trains a dozen students, providing them kits and lessons for free.

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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. Up until a few years ago, pirouettes and arabesques were unheard of in this neighbourhood in the sprawling megacity. That is, until a ballet aficionado brought the dance form here by opening a school for local students. (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

Updated on Jul 08, 2020 03:12 pm IST

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. Up until a few years ago, pirouettes and arabesques were unheard of in this neighbourhood in the sprawling megacity. That is, until a ballet aficionado brought the dance form here by opening a school for local students. (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

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Self-taught dance tutor Daniel Ajala (L) shows students ballet stretch routines during rehearsals in Ajangbadi, Lagos on July 3. Operating in a spare room at a run-down primary school with patches of damp on the walls, this is the Leap of Dance Academy. (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

Updated on Jul 08, 2020 03:12 pm IST

Self-taught dance tutor Daniel Ajala (L) shows students ballet stretch routines during rehearsals in Ajangbadi, Lagos on July 3. Operating in a spare room at a run-down primary school with patches of damp on the walls, this is the Leap of Dance Academy. (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

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Daniel Ajala (R) demonstrates a ballet stretch during rehearsals at Leap of Dance Academy on July 3. The school is the brainchild of Ajala, who opened its doors in late 2017 after studying the dance moves online and in books. Now the academy, which Ajala funds out of his own pocket, has 12 pupils aged between six and 15. (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

Updated on Jul 08, 2020 03:12 pm IST

Daniel Ajala (R) demonstrates a ballet stretch during rehearsals at Leap of Dance Academy on July 3. The school is the brainchild of Ajala, who opened its doors in late 2017 after studying the dance moves online and in books. Now the academy, which Ajala funds out of his own pocket, has 12 pupils aged between six and 15. (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

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A student maintains the fifth position in ballet at the Leap of Dance Academy on July 3. The lessons are free and shoes and kit provided to the children, most of whom had never heard of ballet before they got involved. (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

Updated on Jul 08, 2020 03:12 pm IST

A student maintains the fifth position in ballet at the Leap of Dance Academy on July 3. The lessons are free and shoes and kit provided to the children, most of whom had never heard of ballet before they got involved. (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

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Chinemere Duru (L) practices a pirouette at the academy. “In this area, I know we can’t actually afford the luxury of ballet, or dance education -- so I think it’s a beautiful art to introduce to our people here,” Daniel Ajala told AFP. (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

Updated on Jul 08, 2020 03:12 pm IST

Chinemere Duru (L) practices a pirouette at the academy. “In this area, I know we can’t actually afford the luxury of ballet, or dance education -- so I think it’s a beautiful art to introduce to our people here,” Daniel Ajala told AFP. (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

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Students prepare for a rehearsal at the Leap of Dance Academy on July 3. Ajala recalled how locals in the neighbourhood of Ajangbadi were sceptical at first about his plan to teach ballet. “When we started ballet here, people were like ‘what are they doing? Is it not indecent? It’s not a Christian dance!’” (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

Updated on Jul 08, 2020 03:12 pm IST

Students prepare for a rehearsal at the Leap of Dance Academy on July 3. Ajala recalled how locals in the neighbourhood of Ajangbadi were sceptical at first about his plan to teach ballet. “When we started ballet here, people were like ‘what are they doing? Is it not indecent? It’s not a Christian dance!’” (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

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Students stretch during rehearsals at the Leap of Dance Academy on July 3. Now after several years of training and effort the dancers have gained more acceptance. “We want to make sure to show them that this is not a bad dance -- ballet is a very disciplined, forward dance that is very important in the growth of a child,” Ajala said. (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

Updated on Jul 08, 2020 03:12 pm IST

Students stretch during rehearsals at the Leap of Dance Academy on July 3. Now after several years of training and effort the dancers have gained more acceptance. “We want to make sure to show them that this is not a bad dance -- ballet is a very disciplined, forward dance that is very important in the growth of a child,” Ajala said. (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

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Olamide Olawole (front) stands in the Releve sur la pointe position during rehearsals on July 3. Ballet has provided an inspiration and window into unknown cultures for the 15-year-old Olawole. “My dream is to make children around the world to be able to share the same dance experience,” Olawole, who is thinking of becoming a dance teacher herself, told AFP. (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

Updated on Jul 08, 2020 03:12 pm IST

Olamide Olawole (front) stands in the Releve sur la pointe position during rehearsals on July 3. Ballet has provided an inspiration and window into unknown cultures for the 15-year-old Olawole. “My dream is to make children around the world to be able to share the same dance experience,” Olawole, who is thinking of becoming a dance teacher herself, told AFP. (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

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A student of the Leap of Dance Academy, Olamide Olawole, demonstrates an en pointe pose in the street on July 3. After years of engaging with the neighbourhood, when they practice their moves outside around the area, the students now draw admiring -- if sometimes still confused -- glances. (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

Updated on Jul 08, 2020 03:12 pm IST

A student of the Leap of Dance Academy, Olamide Olawole, demonstrates an en pointe pose in the street on July 3. After years of engaging with the neighbourhood, when they practice their moves outside around the area, the students now draw admiring -- if sometimes still confused -- glances. (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

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A student of the Leap of Dance Academy, Anthony Madu (R), performs a grand jete leap while his mother Ifoma Madu watches on from her shop in Ajangbadi on July 3. “I feel great, I feel wonderful, I’m very excited,” she told AFP. “When I see him dancing, it gives me joy.” (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

Updated on Jul 08, 2020 03:12 pm IST

A student of the Leap of Dance Academy, Anthony Madu (R), performs a grand jete leap while his mother Ifoma Madu watches on from her shop in Ajangbadi on July 3. “I feel great, I feel wonderful, I’m very excited,” she told AFP. “When I see him dancing, it gives me joy.” (Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP)

News / Photos / News / Photos: Nigerian academy brings joy of ballet to children in Lagos

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