TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL 2023 REVIEW! Indie filmmaking is not the only discipline that refuses to take "No" for an answer. Jacob Krupnick's documentary short, Then Comes The Body, brings the art of ballet into the most unlikely of locations. Then Comes The Body is the story of Nigerian ballet dancer/instructor Daniel Owoseni Ajala. What makes
Leap of Dance Academy Brings Hope in Nigeria
SEATTLE, Washington Where ballet meets West Africa, Daniel Owoseni Ajala created the Leap of Dance Academy, a dance school in Badagry, Nigeria. “Badagry is a coastal town approximately six hours from the center of the metropolis Lagos.” Ajala opened the academy for those who could not afford ballet classes like the organization’s founder. In the last three years, the academy has provided dance lessons for kids in West Africa.
The Founder of the Leap of Dance Academy
Ajala taught himself to dance at a young age but faced many hardships throughout his career. In Nigeria, ballet is not a traditional African dance form. Thus, the organization faced a level of scrutiny until being culturally accepted. However, Ajala’s love for dance was never hampered by the struggles he faced. He was constantly denied academy acceptance and was unable to attain an international scholarship despite his impeccable dance skills. He then decided to a