An 11-year old Nigerian boy dances in the rain and into the hearts of millions. We reflect on his talent and his message to the world.

No doubt Madu Mmesoma Anthony never heard of Gene Kelly. Or Debbie Renolds. I remember when I was about 9, Gene Kelly danced down the street, singin’ in the rain, just singin’ in the rain. It was that scene in the movie, Singin’ in the Rain (1952), that his lilting, lofting, and tapping steps inspired me to try a little harder at my tap, ballet, and acrobatics lessons.

 

Now an 11- year- old boy who danced in the rain, performing barefoot for his mother in a rain- puddled alley, is inspiring millions of watchers. No doubt we are impressed for different reasons: the scene is unlikely in American culture – or the agility of his lithe body, his focus, his array of classic ballet positions, or maybe even his timing to the sound of falling rain during his music- less performance.

 

Madu’s inner joy is particularly inspiring to me. He follows the pulse of fulfillment in his body. He is fired by the passion in his soul. He feels he “is on top of the world.” Credit, too, must be given to his mother who said, “when they (parents) discover any talent in their children, they should follow it up and give their full support, so that the child will go far with that talent.”

 

Most of all, when I see Anthony dance, I hear the words, “Singin’ in the rain/ just singin’ in the rain/ what a glorious feelin’/ I’m happy again./ I’m laughing at the clouds/ so dark up above/ the sun’s in my heart/ and I’m ready for love./ Let the stormy clouds chase/ everyone from the place/ come on with the rain/ I’ve a smile on my face./ I walk down the lane/ with a happy refrain/ just singin’/ singin’ in the rain./” Soundtrack video.

--by Jan

The story of Anthony Mmesoma Madu, the 11-year-old, barefoot ballet dancer, is a great story. Even better may be the story of Daniel Owoseni Ajala, Anthony’s teacher and the founder of the Leap of Dance Academy, located on the outskirts of Lagos, Nigeria.

Mr. Ajala holds a business degree from the University of Lagos. But many would say his business model for the dance academy has a problem: he charges nothing for his lessons. Classes are held in his apartment, with the furniture pushed to one side. Ajala himself has hardly any dance training; he is largely self-taught from YouTube videos.*

What he does have is passion – passion for dance, and passion for educating children. In one recent interview, he said, “I saw the need to bring a form of art that shows discipline, dedication and commitment,.” “Students who are able to learn all of these can … transfer (them) into other spheres of their lives.”

Ajala himself displays that discipline, dedication and commitment. Seeking assistance online, he found dance teachers in the U.S. and St. Croix who helped him improve his own technique so he could teach the children safely. Those same teachers now offer lessons via Zoom to his students. (Scheduling is a challenge, not only because of time zone differences, but also because Ajala’s apartment gets electricity only every other day.)

While Anthony Madu’s video went viral, he is not the only student among Leap of Dance Academy’s dozen students who has a chance for a career in dance. Ajala’s first student, 19-year-old Olamide Olawale, has also received a dance scholarship; hers is to study with the dance school of the Birmingham Royal Ballet in Britain.

“Every child is talented,” says Anthony Madu’s mother in one of the videos I saw. “Our problem is that we don’t know how to discover the talents our children have.” Thanks be to God for dedicated teachers like Daniel Ajala, who help children discover their talents and develop them!

*follow this link for the story.

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