You may bear in mind Anthony Madu from a video that went viral in June 2020. Shared to hundreds of thousands on Instagram and X (previously Twitter) by celebrities like Viola Davis and Cynthia Erivo, the video captured an 11-year-old Madu dancing barefoot and within the rain on a backstreet of Nigeria—and even then, the weather couldn’t dampen his lofty ballon.
Quickly, hundreds of thousands extra will get a glimpse of not simply Madu’s expertise however his story, which, at current, is unfolding at certainly one of England’s most prestigious coaching grounds for dance: Elmhurst Ballet Faculty.
Coming to Disney+ on March 29, Madu follows the younger dancer’s journey from Lagos to Birmingham, and the highs and lows of settling into the rigorous dance courses, teachers, and social life at Elmhurst. We caught up with the star of the movie about transferring away from his household, his profession aspirations, and what he hopes different dancers take away from the documentary.
Let’s return to when it began: that viral video. What impressed you to movie it?
I really wasn’t the one who filmed it; my outdated dance instructor [Daniel Ajala] did. I wasn’t meant to be in school that day. I simply took class as a result of I used to be bored. My instructor determined to movie it, and he posted it on Instagram and growth!
And that second has catapulted you to a distinct nation. What has the expertise of transferring and residing overseas been like?
After I first moved to England, it felt superb, but in addition, on the similar time, it was a bit exhausting due to the change of climate, lacking dwelling, and the meals, and that type of factor. However I feel I’ve really gotten used to issues right here.
Are you able to speak a bit of bit about your early ballet coaching?
After I began taking ballet at [Leap of Dance Academy], I used to take class on Saturdays, simply within the mornings. However as time went on, I began taking class a bit extra in the course of the week and after faculty. And on weekends, I might prepare from 8 am to round 5 pm. It was type of exhausting as a result of it’s actually sunny in Nigeria, however I feel it was very value it.
Throughout your coaching in Nigeria and now in England, have you ever encountered damaging attitudes round being a male-identifying dancer?
I don’t cope with that at present as a result of we’ve acquired extra male ballet dancers right here than again in Nigeria, which has been actually good for me. After I was in Nigeria, I type of felt bullied for doing ballet. It wasn’t actually seen as one thing {that a} man must be doing.
For these dancers who’re coping with that very same sort of hurt and others who’re merely dreaming of pursuing careers in dance, what do you hope they take away from watching this movie?
That they need to by no means hand over. They need to neglect concerning the negativity, assume extra about how far they need to go, and at all times do not forget that it doesn’t actually matter what folks say; it simply issues what you do and the way you do it.
Are there any dancers who’ve been a supply of inspiration in your ballet journey?
After I was coaching in Nigeria, I appeared as much as [American Ballet Theatre’s] Calvin Royal III. It was good having somebody you may look as much as and have a look at them and be like, “I need to be like that sometime.” However right now—and I’m not saying this as a result of he’s my present ballet instructor—I’d say [Joshua Barwick]. He’s diligent, type, and he needs to know [his students]. He talks to us.
What’s subsequent for you?
This can be a exhausting one. The movie has introduced up various thought for me. I might stick with classical ballet utterly, however I’m additionally fascinated by up to date dance. After I got here to Elmhurst, the place we take up to date classes each week, it felt like discovering a brand new factor that you just love. And I feel that’s among the finest elements of life, is to comprehend issues that you just by no means actually thought would have occurred. I like up to date since you get to do extra motion than you do with ballet. You get to strive a great deal of bizarre stuff. I’m additionally fascinated by transferring into performing.
It appears you’ve been bitten by the cinematic bug. How was your expertise filming?
The digicam crew and the artistic staff had been superb. At first, [filming] felt a bit bizarre, however then I acquired used to it. I lately watched the movie with the entire faculty, and I really thought it was fairly good. I cried a bit at one scene—it was once I was leaving my household in Nigeria to return to the UK. It felt like the sensation of leaving my household got here again. In the course of the finish credit, there have been 5 minutes of applause. I wasn’t anticipating that many individuals to take pleasure in it as a lot as they did, which made me cry once more. It was actually thrilling.
