An 11-year-old boy from Nigeria wins a scholarship from the American Ballet Theater in New York. He was recognized from his video of barefoot dance in the rain. The video went viral and reached the right hands.
Anthony Mmesoma Madu is an 11-year-old boy from Nigeria who won the scholarship to a prestigious New York dance school.
He has an undying passion for dance, with which he won the hearts of millions of people worldwide.
The talented boy went viral once his dance was recorded and published on social media. He was dancing while the rain was pouring.
The video emerged on Instagram in June 2020. Since then, 345 000 people have watched the dance. Also, people shared the video throughout various social media platforms.
When numerous people saw the video, some of them gave support and offered donations for his dance studio in Lagos, Leap of Dance Academy,
ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Dance in New York City offered him a scholarship.
The high number of previews on the video was crucial for Anthony.
The 11-year-old dancing-on-the-rain boy received support from people worldwide.
His supporters praised his dedication and passion in Russian, Mandarin, Portuguese, Tamil, and English.
Cynthia Harvey is the director of the school who gave Anthony the scholarship, and she said:
“A friend who lives in the UK sent me the video,”
“Within a day, I was trying to find him.”
Cynthia Harvey is an artistic director of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Dance, America’s most distinguished balled school.
Only in two days, Harvey found Anthony and his teacher. Right after, they arranged the scholarship that includes a 3-week intensive program, starting on Monday, August 3.
In his interview with Reuters, he said:
“When I am dancing, I feel as if I am on top of the world,”
The first scholarship starts this summer in the American Ballet Theatre. Next year, he will train together with the children from the Ballet Beyond Borders, United States.
Many donations arrived at the academy, where the teacher teaches for free. The owner is Daniel Ajala Owoseni, and he stated that he would use the money for promoting ballet in Nigeria.
Anthony’s parents wanted him to be a priest. But, still, they support his choice to dance!
Below you can take a look at the video.
Sources:
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