Updated on August 23, 2020, 8:10 p.m.
When Anthony Mmesoma Madu was filmed barefoot in the drizzling rain during ballet training in Nigeria, the 11-year-old never thought of success. Yet the video made him a social media star and also earned him a scholarship to the American Ballet Theater.
An internet video has the life of Anthony Mmesoma Madu (11) in Nigeria changed. In the video, Madu dances ballet, barefoot, on wet ground while it is drizzling over the city of Lagos. His performance made him a global hit on social media – and also earned him a scholarship to the American Ballet Theater.
The renowned ballet company in the USA confirmed the scholarship for a program lasting several weeks on Twitter. Madu also got another dance scholarship in the USA A statement said that a decision would still be made whether in Los Angeles or Montana. In the coming year Madu wants to travel to the USA.
Animation on TV was the trigger for Madu’s passion
“I am very happy about the scholarship in the USA,” said Madu of the German press agency. “But even when I feel happy, I am sometimes nervous about leaving my family and going to another country,” he said. But Madu has an effective remedy for his worries: “When I’m nervous, I just do a few ballet steps and then I feel better.” He has been interested in dance since he saw cartoon ballet dancers on television when he was five.
Ifeoma Madu supports the passion of her son, she told the dpa. If his legs ache after hours of exercise, massage them with warm water. Many parents in Nigeria have been reluctant to send their children to ballet class, said the boy’s dance teacher Daniel Ajala, who posted the video of Madu on Instagram in June. “They feel like it is a satanic dance that goes against African culture.”
But Madu doesn’t let himself be dissuaded from his dream: “Although I know that the people in Nigeria don’t dance ballet, I told myself that I want to become a professional ballet dancer. I said to myself, I can just be different, I don’t have to do it what others are doing. ” He wants to represent his homeland internationally in the future. “Ballet makes me happy.” (dpa / fra)
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