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Ballet for all in Nigeria - 6th August 2020

Self-taught dancer Daniel Ajala is bringing ballet from high-class opera houses to a run-down primary school outside Lagos, Nigeria.

After learning ballet from books and online, Ajala started his own dance academy in 2017 to get more Nigerian children pirouetting.

Ajala: “From my years of understanding and reading about ballet, I learned ballet is actually for people who have actually, who have money, who are from very high class, because ballet is expensive. And in this area, I know we can’t actually afford the luxury of ballet, or dance education.”

Entirely self-funded, Ajala’s school supplies not only lessons but also all the equipment needed by the children, many of whom were completely unaware of ballet before their first class.

Initially eyed with suspicion, his academy has since been given the blessing of locals, including Ifoma Madu, who revels in watching son Anthony strut his stuff.

Ifoma: "I, I feel great. I feel wonderful. I’m very excited. When I see him dancing, it gives me joy.”

Ajala is an inspiration to his students, many of whom see beyond dance as a pastime, to its potential as a career.

Olamide: “And maybe one day I will become a dance teacher too, and I’ll be able to gather children too, and teach them how to dance."

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