Nigeria dance academy looks to spread ballet among Lagos children

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2020/08/24 13:54

Today's Vocabulary

1.sceptical (adj)
doubting that something is true or useful

2. limber up (phr.v)
to do gentle exercises to stretch the muscles in order to prepare the body for more active physical exercise

3. run-down (adj) 
weak or in bad condition

4. pirouettes (n)
a fast turn
of the body on the toes  or the front part of the foot, performed especially by a ballet dancer

5. arabesques (n) 
a position in ballet
in which the dancer stands on one leg with the other leg held out straight behind

6. sprawling (adj) 
(of a city
) covered with building across a large area, often ones that have been added gradually over a period of time

7. aficionado (n)
someone who is very interested in and enthusiastic about a particular subject someone who is very interested in and enthusiastic about a particular subject 

Nigeria dance academy looks to spread ballet among Lagos children

A small group of Nigerian girls and boys wearing leotards and leggings limber up in a spare room at a run-down primary school with patches of damp on the walls. They launch into pirouettes and arabesques but have to make do without music. Today, the stereo is not working, because there is no electricity.

This is Leap of Dance Academy — a ballet school in a poor district of sprawling megacity Lagos that aims to bring classical dance to underprivileged children in Africa’s most populous nation.

The school is the brainchild of self-taught ballet aficionado Daniel Ajala, who opened its doors in late 2017 after studying the dance moves online and in books. The lessons are free and shoes and kit provided to the children, most of whom had never heard of ballet before they got involved.

“In this area, I know we can’t actually afford the luxury of ballet, or dance education — so I think it’s a beautiful art to introduce to our people here.” He says locals in the neighbourhood of Ajangbadi were sceptical at first about his plan to teach ballet.

“We want to make sure to show them that this is not a bad dance — ballet is a much disciplined, forward dance that is very important in the growth of a child.”

Now after several years of training and effort the dancers have gained more acceptance. And when they practice their moves outside around the area they now draw admiring — if sometimes still confused — glances.

Resource: https://www.gulftoday.ae/lifestyle/2020/07/07/nigeria-dance-academy-looks-to-spread-ballet-among-lagos-children

Discussion
  1. Who is Daniel Ajala?
  2. To whom does the academy provide free lessons?
  3. What images are in your mind when you hear the word ‘ballet’?

“Life can be a wonderful ballet, letting us express all the values we are living for if the sky of our imagination remains open to passion.

Erik Pevernagie