Remember the viral video of an 11-year-old boy dancing ballet on concrete in the rain? Anthony Madu has now been accepted into the American Ballet Theater in New York City!
What is dedication? Ballet, barefoot on concrete while raining… incredible! (Via: LeapOfDanceAcademy/IG) pic.twitter.com/seoKahOxre
— Black With No Chaser (@BlackNoChaser) June 24, 2020
The video of Anthony perfecting intricate pirouettes on hard concrete in Lagos awed millions of people around the world and also sparked off the conversation on how Africa, Nigeria is a hotbed of undiscovered talent.
Anthony now has the opportunity to harness his incredible talent as he’s been offered a full scholarship to study at one of the most prestigious dance schools in the world.
The youngster is a student of The Leap of Dance Academy, founded by Daniel Ajala, a ballet school in Lagos that provides ballet education to indigenous young dancers in Nigeria. 
He’ll now join other students from around the world to learn dance at the New York American Ballet Theatre.
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Meanwhile, British-Nigerian actress Cynthia Erivio was amongst the persons who was awe-struck by Anthony’s dancing. Speaking to NBC News, the “Harriet” star said:
“They’re in Nigeria. I happen to be Nigerian as well. And I was like, this felt like a kismet moment.
I think it’s extremely important because I think boys are not encouraged to do this incredibly hard craft that actually encourages strength and stamina and beauty.”
Anthony Madu and his other classmates have also received encouragement from American Ballet Theatre’s acclaimed soloist Calvin Royal III. In a chat with the young’uns, Calvin Royal said:
“You are not only changing your world there in Africa but you’re changing the hearts and minds of so many people.”
While speaking in a video chat with CBS alongside his mother, Ifeoma Madu, Anthony had this to say about dancing:
“It makes me feel strong and happy when I’m dancing. I see my future like i’m going to be a professional dancer when I grow up.”
Watch the video below:
From the streets of Lagos to a scholarship in an American school of ballet via social media. pic.twitter.com/q4671rP0qT
— Chief Ojukwu (@ChiefOjukwu) August 11, 2020
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