Photo: BBC News.
Said Anthony’s mother, “People were telling me that this type of dance is not for boys. But it’s what he loves doing, so I let him go for it.”
The other day, my husband and I were talking about the discovery of the very young Judy Garland (scroll down here) and how the pressures of being a child star really messed her up. Fortunately, many parents of child stars since then have learned to keep a steady hand on the tiller.
Consider the story of the young Nigerian dancer that Jenna Abaakouk writes about at BBC News.
“Dubbed Nigeria’s viral ballet dancer, 13-year-old Anthony Madu’s life has changed beyond recognition over the last three years after his dance moves and internet fame catapulted him from his modest home in Lagos to one of the UK’s most prestigious ballet schools.
“It was his dance teacher who filmed the young boy in June 2020 as he practiced pirouettes barefoot in the rain.
“Afterwards, he uploaded the video to social media where it caught the eye of Hollywood actress Viola Davis who shared it to her huge following on Twitter. … It led to Anthony being offered a scholarship at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at the American Ballet Theatre. However, Covid-19 restrictions at the time meant the training had to take place online.
“It was then that Anthony was given a chance to study at Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham — which had seemed to him an unattainable dream. …
“Sitting in one of the school’s practice studios, he shyly admits it has not been an easy transition. ‘For the first year, it felt really, really hard trying to adjust to like the weather compared to Nigeria and also missing home as well,’ he says.
“However he has how settled down and enjoys the strictures of his new dance regime. ‘I video call my mum every day and hang out with my friends. Here, we do more classical ballet. It has to be precise, like having the arms right.’ …
Without the chance for formal training, he taught himself through watching videos and copying moves that fascinated him.
“It was a hobby that surprised his family. ‘When he was five years, I saw him dancing. I thought: “What is wrong with you?” ‘ Ifeoma Madu, Anthony’s mother, who still lives in Lagos, tells the BBC. ‘People were telling me that this type of dance is not for boys. But it’s what he loves doing, so I let him go for it,’ she says.
“As Anthony’s interest developed, his family moved to a different neighborhood of the city so he could attend the Lagos Leap of Dance Academy. …
“Mike Wamaya, a ballet teacher in Kibera — Africa’s largest informal urban settlement — in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, is impressed by Anthony’s story.
” ‘It is very rare to see young boys getting scholarships from Africa to go outside to dance,’ the 48-year-old, who has more than 250 children taking his classes, tells the BBC. … Mr Wamaya admits too that many young boys on the continent do not pursue ballet because of the social stigma associated with it. ‘People are very homophobic and as a male dancer you are called gay. … This built a lot of resilience in us. We got teased a lot but I’m very happy that my students used the teasing to prove those people wrong.’ …
“Anthony has already inspired other young people in Nigeria and the rest of Africa to pursue their dancing ambitions. His journey is also to be shown to a much wider audience as Disney is making a documentary about it. Called Madu, it is currently in post-production. …
“Life in Birmingham is also broadening Anthony’s horizons, as there is more on offer academically at Elmhurst. ‘When I was in Nigeria, I didn’t do things like art. But now I love drawing. And learning other dances too. Aside from ballet, contemporary is my favorite,’ he says. …
” ‘There might be struggles along the way but remember it’s just temporary and it will be worth it in the end.’ “
More at the BBC, here. No paywall.
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