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11-Year-Old Boy from Nigeria Receives A Scholarship From New York Dance School After His Barefoot Ballet Performance Goes Viral

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While nowadays, many people like to point out all the bad things surrounding social media and the internet in general (which, of course, there are plenty of), this story is a reminder of how the World Wide Web can work as a means to achieve great things.

This boy that you can see in the video below is an 11-year-old ballet dancer from Nigeria. Recently, a video of him dancing in the rain barefoot went viral and even managed to earn him a scholarship to a prestigious US summer workshop.

More info: Instagram

Take a look at this viral sensation yourself

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Leap of Dance Academy (@leapofdanceacademy) on Jun 17, 2020 at 6:32pm PDT

This video was shared by his dance school, which is called Leap of Dance Academy. Soon enough, the video went viral, gathering thousands of views, likes, and comments. People seem to be absolutely stunned by the boy’s dedication, grace, and talent.

The video caught the eye of Cynthia Harvey, who is the artistic director of New York’s ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Dance

11-Year-Old Boy from Nigeria Receives A Scholarship From New York Dance School After His Barefoot Ballet Performance Goes Viral

“A friend who lives in the UK sent me the video,” Harvey told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Within a day I was trying to find him.”

Fortunately, Cynthia Harvey finally succeeded in tracking Anthony down. Moreover, she offered him a scholarship to a virtual three-week intensive summer workshop in the US.

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11-Year-Old Boy from Nigeria Receives A Scholarship From New York Dance School After His Barefoot Ballet Performance Goes Viral

Daniel Ajala Owoseni, who is Anthony’s teacher, founded this school in Lagos in 2017. Unfortunately, even after 3 years, the school still doesn’t have a dedicated space for its 12 students. Because of that, most of the time, they practice in Owoseni’s own basement as well as public spaces in the community.

“We are trying to change stereotypes around ballet dance. Boys can actually do ballet,” the teacher told the BBC. “Male ballet dancing is here to stay and it is not only supposed to be for females.”

“Anthony is currently in ABT virtual summer intensive”

11-Year-Old Boy from Nigeria Receives A Scholarship From New York Dance School After His Barefoot Ballet Performance Goes Viral

“It made us just feel very overwhelmed and grateful. We can not believe our eyes, and the outpouring of support, sometimes we think we’re dreaming. God has been so gracious to us by providing all these things. Anthony is very excited and has always been a hard worker, so he is happy to continue working towards his dreams and have this opportunity. Anthony is currently in ABT virtual summer intensive. The main goal for our school is to have our students represent ballet in Nigeria well and bring it to the forefront while showing the elegance of ballet, but also letting our culture shine through,” business and PR representative at Leap of Dance Academy told Bored Panda.

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“The main goal for our school is to have our students represent ballet in Nigeria”

11-Year-Old Boy from Nigeria Receives A Scholarship From New York Dance School After His Barefoot Ballet Performance Goes Viral

Here’s what people are saying about this fascinating performance

11-Year-Old Boy from Nigeria Receives A Scholarship From New York Dance School After His Barefoot Ballet Performance Goes Viral

11-Year-Old Boy from Nigeria Receives A Scholarship From New York Dance School After His Barefoot Ballet Performance Goes Viral

11-Year-Old Boy from Nigeria Receives A Scholarship From New York Dance School After His Barefoot Ballet Performance Goes Viral

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11-Year-Old Boy from Nigeria Receives A Scholarship From New York Dance School After His Barefoot Ballet Performance Goes Viral

11-Year-Old Boy from Nigeria Receives A Scholarship From New York Dance School After His Barefoot Ballet Performance Goes Viral

11-Year-Old Boy from Nigeria Receives A Scholarship From New York Dance School After His Barefoot Ballet Performance Goes Viral

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11-Year-Old Boy from Nigeria Receives A Scholarship From New York Dance School After His Barefoot Ballet Performance Goes Viral

11-Year-Old Boy from Nigeria Receives A Scholarship From New York Dance School After His Barefoot Ballet Performance Goes Viral

11-Year-Old Boy from Nigeria Receives A Scholarship From New York Dance School After His Barefoot Ballet Performance Goes Viral

11-Year-Old Boy from Nigeria Receives A Scholarship From New York Dance School After His Barefoot Ballet Performance Goes Viral

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Julija Svidraitė

Julija Svidraitė is an editor here at Bored Panda who has a bachelor's degree in Psychology. Before starting her journey at BP, she had worked as a social media specialist at a marketing agency. She has also tried herself in a few different fields working as an intern: from practicing graphic design at a social media marketing agency, to being an assistant at a psychiatric hospital. Besides writing, Julija is also very passionate about illustrating, drinking coffee, and watching crime documentaries. You can find her in Bored Panda Office or reach her at julija.s@boredpanda.com.

Julija Svidraitė is an editor here at Bored Panda who has a bachelor's degree in Psychology. Before starting her journey at BP, she had worked as a social media specialist at a marketing agency. She has also tried herself in a few different fields working as an intern: from practicing graphic design at a social media marketing agency, to being an assistant at a psychiatric hospital. Besides writing, Julija is also very passionate about illustrating, drinking coffee, and watching crime documentaries. You can find her in Bored Panda Office or reach her at julija.s@boredpanda.com.

What do you think ?

Karin Jansen 4 years ago

Anyone else who was expecting a full scholarship situation based on the caption, rather than a 'virtual three-week summer workshop'?

84points

Viviane 4 years ago

I had the same initial impression. That said, I'm glad Anthony gets to attend a summer workshop -- it may lead to more opportunities. At the very least, it's a vindication of the hard work and dedication of both the student and his teacher.

35points

Load More Replies...

Johnny 4 years ago

I didn't even catch that when I read the article, I thought it was a real workshop. If he did get a scholarship to an in-person workshop, I'd gladly contribute to a GoFundMe to pay his travel expenses.

15points

Sue Hazlewood 4 years ago

Very hard to do that at the moment with Covid 19 rife in the world

5points

Aria Whitaker 4 years ago

I remember him when this was posted to Reddit! So glad he got a chance to shine, look forward to following his progress and career in the future! Go Anthony!

20points

Lisa 4 years ago (edited)

There was one person on that thread who was like, "oh he's not that good at all, basically he only looks talented because of the juxtaposed environment." Which is a real downer, so it's good that was not the case.

19points

Load More Replies...

Pacifico Fernandez 4 years ago

Watching and thinking "And what is your excuse".. He is talented! I hoped he would get a real scholarship to go to America and study dance, but maybe on the next video.

14points

AF 4 years ago

Or maybe attract more funding to his dance school, which clearly deserves it.

22points

Load More Replies...

Ly Nguyen 4 years ago

Pacifico Fernandez haha

0points

hoolzroolz 4 years ago

Pacifico Fernandez like

0points

Load More Comments

Karin Jansen 4 years ago

Anyone else who was expecting a full scholarship situation based on the caption, rather than a 'virtual three-week summer workshop'?

84points

Viviane 4 years ago

I had the same initial impression. That said, I'm glad Anthony gets to attend a summer workshop -- it may lead to more opportunities. At the very least, it's a vindication of the hard work and dedication of both the student and his teacher.

35points

Load More Replies...

Johnny 4 years ago

I didn't even catch that when I read the article, I thought it was a real workshop. If he did get a scholarship to an in-person workshop, I'd gladly contribute to a GoFundMe to pay his travel expenses.

15points

Sue Hazlewood 4 years ago

Very hard to do that at the moment with Covid 19 rife in the world

5points

Aria Whitaker 4 years ago

I remember him when this was posted to Reddit! So glad he got a chance to shine, look forward to following his progress and career in the future! Go Anthony!

20points

Lisa 4 years ago (edited)

There was one person on that thread who was like, "oh he's not that good at all, basically he only looks talented because of the juxtaposed environment." Which is a real downer, so it's good that was not the case.

19points

Load More Replies...

Pacifico Fernandez 4 years ago

Watching and thinking "And what is your excuse".. He is talented! I hoped he would get a real scholarship to go to America and study dance, but maybe on the next video.

14points

AF 4 years ago

Or maybe attract more funding to his dance school, which clearly deserves it.

22points

Load More Replies...

Ly Nguyen 4 years ago

Pacifico Fernandez haha

0points

hoolzroolz 4 years ago

Pacifico Fernandez like

0points

Load More Comments

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