Ballet in Nigeria - 6th August 2020

Daniel Ajala is a Nigerian dancer. Now, he is teaching ballet to children.

He teaches in an old primary school. The school is near the Nigerian capital, Lagos.

Ajala learnt ballet from books and the internet. He opened his dance school in 2017.

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.”

Ajala pays for the school himself. He gives the children dance shoes too. Many of the children didn’t know about ballet before. Local people were unsure about the school. But now they like it.

Ifoma Madu's son goes to the school. She likes watching him.

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

The students like the dance classes. Some of them want to be like Ajala.

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."