L'histoire contagieuse et inspirante d'un Nigérian danseur de ballet autodidacte.

Lorsqu'une vidéo d'enfants dansant sous la pluie devient virale, elle attire l'attention du monde entier sur une école de ballet improbable à l'extérieur de Lagos, au Nigéria. Aujourd'hui, Daniel Ajala - qui a appris le ballet sur YouTube - forme des étudiants à se produire sur la scène mondiale.

mit / estrelado / starring / avec
Daniel Owoseni Ajala, Olamide Olawale, Precious Duru

a film by | Un film de
Jacob KRUPNICK

Nigeria, USA | 2023, Court métrage documentaire | 14 mins | Portrait, Danse | En anglais

Titles | Titres :
Then Comes The Body - ナイジェリアのバレエダンサー

THEN COMES THE BODY is a short documentary about underdogs, globalism, and dance. It starts with Daniel Ajala, a self-taught ballet dancer who discovers the European dance form in the American movie SAVE THE LAST DANCE. With no ballet schools in Nigeria, he opens Leap of Dance Academy in his front yard: humble, rigorous, and free to anyone with dedication.

Then in 2020 - while the pandemic rages around the world - Ajala uploads a video of his students dancing on cement in the rain. The feel-good video goes viral, putting this unlikely dance school on the map. With the attention comes new opportunities for the students - but in the sandy streets of Ajangbadi, nothing comes easily. As top students compete for international scholarships and begin to leave home, Ajala realizes the best thing he can do is be a bridge for the next generation.


Director Statement:
Dance collaborations are central to my work. There's some irony here: I grew up profoundly uncomfortable with my own body, often gripped by shame. By working with people who articulate themselves beautifully through movement, I enjoy a process where I'm continually an outsider and a novice. Because our relationships are built on a partnership rather than the expectation of a perfect performance, my work is different from what you'd see from a professional choreographer.

I learned about Leap of Dance in the summer of 2020. The pandemic was raging around the world, and uplifting stories were in short supply. But I was less interested in the viral video than the unlikeliness of ballet thriving in a courtyard in Lagos. I had so many questions beyond the plucky soundbites and instagram posts.

Speaking with Daniel, I learned how the rush of attention had changed their lives and brought new challenges. Success also means entering a competitive world, dominated by white people, white spaces, white tutus. The news anchors have no appetite for this complexity. This film comes from my belief that Leap of Dance deserves a deeper, more dignifying portrait.

Producer | Producteurs :
Damilola Aleje, Jacob Krupnick

REGISSEUR / REALIZADOR / DIRECTOR / RÉALISATEUR :
Jacob KRUPNICK

Guión | Script | Scénario :
Jacob Krupnick

Fotografía | Cinematographer | Directeur de la photo :
Soren Nielsen

Montaje | Editing | Montage :
Esteban Pedraza

Música | Music | Musique :
Martin Velez


CONTACT (Print Copy / Diffusion du film, Festivals) :
Jacob Krupnick
Wild Combination | Brooklyn, New York 11218 (USA)
Phone: +19175870303 | jacob(@)wildcombination.com


FESTIVALS - PROJECÇÕES / FESTIVALS - SCREENINGS / PROJECTIONS (selection) :
/// 2023 | World Premiere | Tribeca Film Festival (USA)
/// 2024 | Selection | Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA) |Harajuku/Omotesando (Tokyo, Japan)



Fuente / Fontes / Our Source / Quelle / Nos Sources (MAIS INFORMAÇÕES / READ MORE / PLUS D'INFOS) :
- Africiné Magazine
- https://filmfreeway.com/ThenComesTheBody
- https://tribecafilm.com/films/then-comes-the-body-2023
- www.shortshorts.org/2024/en/program/nonfiction/nonfiction-2/then-comes-the-body/
Updated by Thierno DIA, 14 March 2025