Life after my viral ballet video got me a scholarship - BBC Africa
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- Опубліковано 30 тра 2024
- Eleven-year-old Anthony Mmesoma Madu, Nigeria’s viral ballet dancer, has received multiple scholarships from around the world to pursue his passion.
One of those scholarships came from the prestigious Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre in the USA.
As Anthony prepares to embark on a journey of a lifetime in 2021, he describes how things have changed for him.
Filmed and edited by Grace Ekpu.
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Please can his parents go with him or his family. This kid is too young to be alone in the US. PLEASE I HOPE SOMEONE HEARS THIS AND HELPS.
really horrible in the western world he will builled too much and even Moree than can also happen
@@kiiza2886 he will not be bullied in the name of jesus. he will flourish and be always safe. i rebuke your comment in the name of jesus.
@@sonquatsch8585 wht afuck am not saying it in abad way please I wish him well but in America is ashit hole they are killing black people every day women , men and kids . so I feel sad he is young and is going to live there alone i know wht am talking about am his age mate but the experience is bad if you dont even have parents.
Kiiza Izo that’s the same way we feel about your world dear all those scams kidnappings and murders
Right same thing i was thinking!! It whould be way better for him if one of his parents will go with him he looks like he's 12 ! This will be a culture shock for such a young child!! If he was 18 it whould be different but at this young age he needs his mom or dad beside him also to protect him. Really hope they will do that.
Oh, man, he's just a little baby. PLEASE take care of this kid and don't let the cruel world get to him and sour him. I pray that he will be safe from all kinds of evil. Be strong, Anthony, and be okay with crying a little bit too. It helps sometimes.
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Amen!
@@SKlektor mostly from pedophiles or better known now as "minors attracted persons" 🤢🤮🤮🤮
Please advocate for his parents to go with him oh!....that child needs that...honestly without that ..hmmmm..please he needs his family..
They would give him a family in the USA
@@euniceakpabli8 no family can replace your own. Especially when they genuinely love you
@@oweeishe-emwe8353 I know but in this case they won't allow his family to follow him. My cousin got a similar scholarship because he played basketball very well. He got to the US and he was given a US family and they were very good. I pray he gets a good family to nurture him because he is still young.
@@euniceakpabli8 If he really wants to learn then I'm sure he'll adjust to his new family. But that doesn't make it right either. It's like a "life or death" situation.
Let's pray he's put in a loving home.
@@oweeishe-emwe8353 I pray so. You can see the bond he has with his mum. Its soo heartbreaking he will have to leave.
Beautiful. God protect him on his journey
Amen🙏🏾💯🥰
In Jesus name! May He glorify the Lord in ballet in Jesus name!
V
Congratulations to you young keep up the good work...
I am praying for his protection and safety in Jesus Name. America is a land of great opportunities but there are several powers at work that when it comes to children. This boy needs a guardian to watch over him. Lord please send Destiny Helpers and guardian angels to watch over him. Allow no weapon formed against him to prosper. I rebuke every plot and plan of the enemy. May this child be used for your glory and your glory alone God. Protect him with light that the forces of darkness cannot penetrate and keep him in perfect peace. In Jesus Name Amen 🙏🏾
@@stephaniehurt5708 Amen in Jesus name!
He needs protection, vultures here. I pray for his safety and mental health. So happy his dreams are being fulfilled.
Amen
There are vultures everywhere.
Amen❤
@@alexandersinclair yea but they know what they talking about.
First thing I thought too.. someone should go with him.
I just wanted to clear this up for anyone confused in the comments. What most dancers do who are from other countries or who don't live in the state is stay in dorms. Most of the major ballet schools have dorms, and it's quite a common thing to live in them (I've stayed in them for SI's but not year-rounds). I've heard from all of my friends that have been to ABT JKO that the dorms are actually really good and they have full live-in resident managers (However, I heard that you must be 15 to live in the specific dorms for JKO, I think for younger students the school arranges trusted host families). According to the ballet students I've met from other countries, it is a crazy experience to move away from home, but it's worth it because the training they're getting. This is not to say that dancers won't miss their family or anything like that, but they are in a pretty safe environment and normally develop really close connections with the people they're training with. I hope this helps for anyone confused about the living situation!
Thank you for explaining, makes me less worried... And I pray he gets a loving host family😊
Thank you - voice of reason amid a sea of simpletons.
I swear these comments are nuts.
Exactly! I know everyone in the comments was just trying to be caring, but I think we should be focusing more on his accomplishments than demanding that ABT (which is a very reputable school) would be separating him from his family in a malicious way.
and for Black ballet dancers? Black community? Do you have a sense of that? (genuine question)
Why does everyone assume that his family can just pick up and leave and live in the US? They have a home and lives. He is being offered an amazing opportunity. The things that are being suggested in this comment section are egregious. It is a privilege to get to go abroad and live your dream. He is not the only youth who has done this before.
Yeah exactly! His parents have other kids to look after and they cant just turn all his siblings lives upside down because of him!
Ikr, they need to make a living too
Congratulations! I pray he has the right people around him to look out for him and keep him safe!
Right... 💯💯
Amen
You stole the words right out of my mouth. Thank you....its serious but I hope he is safe and well with his host family.
AMEN!!!!
Exactly!!
It would be nice if Nigeria had it's own dance academy!
Yes. That would be better for him. And safer too physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
He was in a dance academy in Nigeria, where those beautiful kids were dancing 😊,
For real
We do have some , the society for performing arts of Nigeria and thr the MU SON centre
@Martin Dennis that iui s awesome!!!! People should travel from far to Africa instead of going to Europe.
I was thinking of Alvin Alley when I thought of Nigeria's dance center. Too much talent
But he’s a minor, shouldn’t his parents or a guardian be accompanying him. 🤔🤔🤔 I hope his family sees these comments and takes heed or someone who know them tells them about this.
I’m sure he’ll be set up with a host family. Kids leave their homes all over the world to attend certain schools. They even have dorms at certain. Schools and the way it works kids go back home during g holidays
Exactly. I wouldnt let him go, by himself.
I agree but his visa catagory is probably a student visa or an extraordinary talent visa it is to study or use his talent. So I think it wouldn't qualify to extend to his parents. Because of his age he wouldn't be left alone he will dorm and have a caretaker like a house mother who is available 24/7 and will also have his own stipend. Most house moms are usually experienced and educated handling children and a child's adjustment to a new place. I used to work with teens that would go to boarding school and they were actually taken cared of. I am sure like all kids he will first miss home and not like the food but then they make friends. But not every situation is perfect. Boarding school is not really normal in the U.S. but around the world schools are usually located in metropolitan areas so sending a child away to school at around his age is normal in various places around the world. I pray 🙏 for him and his family to get the blessings they deserve!
@@izziethan2 Yeah, more than likely a white one......😥😥😥
Why are you people so consumed with Fear.. just because you were to scared to pursue your Dream stop already. You have no idea what measures his fam and the Program have put into place, besides he's going to be surrounded by Children his age ficused on exactly the same. thing.
Beautiful child. His little legs are so muscular already. I can see he’s such a polite little man. Very respectful. I love him. I do wish his parents could accompany him. I wish him all the best and may God watch over and protect him.
Amen
Think about all those Wicked Evil men in the industry also, that will be watching his body. There's is so much evil perversion that goes on behind the scenes in the industry , he definitely needs his parents with him.
God please keep him safe! God please protect him from bad people who may want to harm him! Put your loving arms around Anthony! All the best Anthony!
Amen
Amen
Stephanie Hurt amen!!
I love the fact there's a *male* ballet teacher as well!
Yeah, and he looks like a great teacher.
about 70% of ballet dancers are male
Am happy for his scolarship but the are lots of battles in the western world especially those industries
Pray God be with him and protect against predators
It's not like there aren't predators in Nigeria also. Pray for him to be protected from predtors regardless of where he lives.
@cm. CG tf
Well, if 95% of the comments are worried about him being alone in the US...someone has to help that kid for real! Not to mention,Americans are also commenting about his safety.
I don't know why...why is everyone afraid?
@@melbel6794 because he's going alone, to somewhere he has prob never been. It's hard navigating the world as an adult so you can imagine a kid. Also ballet is a prestigious thing so he could be bullied because of his accent. Third child abuse soo many reasons for concern.
Your amazing lil brother.Focus and GO ALL THE WAY.😃
No one better messes with this kid, I pray that anyone who take him under their wing has his best interest and keep him safe.
Why is everyone in the comments talking about how his parents should go with him? His parents have other kids to look after and they can't just turn all his siblings lives upside down because of him.
I personally don't think it would be fair for his sibling to all have to pack up, leave their entire lives behind, and move to a foreign country just because of him. Its not like he is being forced to go.
It would be for a few years only, until he is 18. Then all of the family could go back to Nigeria.
@@mrsTraveller64 But that would still be a huge change and it would last for years
I’m so happy for him 😭 I remember seeing his first video 🇳🇬🇳🇬❤️❤️
May the God of heaven protect and shield this child.
So happy for him!! Perhaps he can start a ballet school
in Nigeria when he grows up.
Nigeria don't need that BS
Nigeria has a macho culture, I am glad he is leaving that toxic country.
@@MegaClemie shut up you
Fool
And your country is what
Ode
@@dinhos2000 what, he should focus on internet dating scams instead?
How do we start a go fund me for his family? He can't come here alone. He is too young. This is what America is about. Now is the time to make it happen! I don't know what to do.
Does his mom even want to come?
Where is he going to school... what state? He needs sponsors to watch over him.
@@afrobluatlanta2380 He will be living in New York. And don't be silly, of course he will have a host family.
kevin brown that’s not the same. Look at Sergei Polunin and the movie „Dancer“... he was 11 when he came to London by himself. They took good care of him, but his relationship with his parents got really messed up. He burned out before he was even 20 and still suffers from it.
@@mathildewesendonck7225 Why are so many people concentrating in the negatives?
Thank you BBC. The news should impact the lives of humanity. Glad to watch this breakthrough for the lad. Cheers.
Stop being a " pen in pocket " and use your brain. This kid is in tremendous danger. They'll sell him to the satanic pedophiles. I hope I'm wrong but the're just too many red flags.
He is so adorable and seemingly very polite. He looks like my son so much, that I started crying when he cried. I pray for his guidance and protection in the New York. He is gifted and bright ♥️♥️
This is what the internet should do! Thanks to this kids talent and someone making him viral. He now has a scholarship!! I'm so glad for him and thankful for everyone who helped this come true!!
Lovely! I pray he becomes an international success!
Amen
sobbing through this entire video!!! what a sweetie, please let him bring mum 🥺😩😭 i beg
I am praying for his protection and safety in Jesus Name. America is a land of great opportunities but there are several powers at work when it comes to vulnerable children in this nation. He is very talented but he also needs a guardian to ensure that he is protected from predators and those that may not have his best interest at heart. Why does he have to separated from his family? I would not be separated from my child if it were me. Especially knowing the things that I know concerning those in power here.
Lord please send Destiny Helpers and guardian angels to watch over him. Allow no weapon formed against him to prosper. I rebuke every plot and plan of the enemy. May this child be used for your glory , and your glory alone God. Protect him with so much light that the forces of darkness cannot penetrate his mind, body, or soul and keep him in perfect peace. In Jesus Mighty Name Amen 🙏🏾
Amen. 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
Amen, so true
Amen!
Amen 🙏🏾
Amen ^^
He makes me cry 😢 😭 🤧 😩 😪
The talent in Africa abounds!! So proud of this young man.♥️
God will protect him throughout his stay in the States. My utmost prayer is that he will NEVER be a victim of any police brutality because of the colour of his skin and he will NEVER face any sort of racism or bullying. You're in God's hands.
Amen
Police brutality in the US against blacks is not as common as you may be led to believe from the media. America offers the best opportunities in the world for black people.
@@kevinbrown-ge6sz You live in cloud Cuckoo land. You need to watch some documentaries, start with 'Thirteenth'.
So pleased for him, but sad for all the talented children in Africa that will never get such an opportunity due to the fact that their leaders have no interest in their futures. Young man live your dream💕
hes sooo freaking beautiful and cool. i wish i could tell him how special and blessed he is. yes God has blessed U with sooo much beauty inside and out! face and smile of an angel 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾❣️❣️❣️
Our little brother. Glad for this update and major blessings on your journey
Goooo Madu!!!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Nigerians are about to take over the world!😁🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬 #TeamNaija
The most important thing is God to protect him, Am loving this, keep it up🙏👏
Amen
I cried with him it’s a great opportunity to grab but please let’s take him with his parents
I agree
a pure soul,bless u dear.
Such a sweet boy God please protect him, may they all rise and soar higher
I'm looking forward to seeing this young man dance professionally later in life.
Represent...Anthony 🔥 🔥 🔥
For once,the internet has benefited the poor. Oh my gosh,so inspiring.
May GOD bless, protect and prosper this young boy.
Amen
The parents need to go with him or he can attend virtually. This is a baby 💛 welldone and congratulations for the scholarship.
Good let's hope he's not exploited
Agreed
Yes oo I pray
My thoughts exactly
Was thinking the same thing. Cover him Jesus🙏
I pray for this child🥺
Hope they mean him well!❤️❤️💯
I saw the viral clip i wish the best for him , i hope he reaches his dreams, and gets to see his family often.
I am glad for him.
He got a chance to fullfill his dreams.
It's always been like this, that dedicated young ballett students have to live away from their families.
Ballet education is a full time job.
I hope he can dance on many great theaters later.
If he ever comes to Stuttgart, Germany, the city where the great John Cranko devellopped an elite ballet company, I would be glad to watch his performance!
Toi, toi, toi!
Why is he going alone??? Poor kid, I would be crying too! Someone please go with him. His whole family should immigrate!
Are you paying for them to immigrate? It’s not that easy.
lmao - what fantasy world do you live in?
Soooo many kids leave their home country to go to a boarding school of ballet its kind of normal in this industry
His parents have other kids to look after and they cant just turn all his siblings lives upside down because of him.
I am very very happy for him 😊
God, to be that young in a place like NYC away from his family, friends and everything he has ever known is nothing short of terrifying. When he has a bad day and his mama isn’t there to hold and comfort him.
I hope he makes lots of genuine friends but still nothing substitutes for family. Good luck to you young man, nothing great is ever achieved without sacrifice.
He'll be fine, and with a host family. Thousands of children his age go to study abroad every year.
Th beauty in stories like these is that a child rewarded usually appreciates their opportunities and gives back to the communities they came from. I hope that Anthony has every success in his endeavours.
Damn so many crazy ignorant people in the comments seem to think this child will just be thrown into a city alone. Are y'all drunk? He will either be with a heavily vetted host family or live in a dormitory with other ballet students. He is not the first international ballet student in history. There is very tried and true process.
And did anyone of them NOT get abused???
@@mrsTraveller64 um... pretty much all of them were never abused? There will always be outliers in a program who were abused, but it's not the majority by any stretch of the imagination. Also, abuse exists everywhere. He could never leave where he is right now and be abused tomorrow. Especially seeing as most abusers are family or close friends of family.
Thank you!! 🤣🤣
Hoping for the best and success for him, and hoping a parent goes along and set up house for safety, as he I’d still a child.
Omg...he's so adorable!! I wish him the best of luck when he gets to the US :D
I hope he gets the best treatment here and adapts well, I can’t imagine the stress of his talent and leaving his family but it will be a wonderful opportunity
Can his parents go with him???
Missing his parents can effect him. So would be nice his parents to go with him😥
Maryama Nur I doubt they can go with him, because he has brothers and sisters
His parents have other kids to look after and they cant just turn all his siblings lives upside down because of him.
Ahhh this put a big smile on my face. I wish you all the best young man!
Reminds me of my mother’s friend from Ashton South Africa whose kids are ballet dancers and doing well overseas. The lived dance and made money from dance. Two boys left the township and are doing amazing things overseas.
God bless you child, do not cry. Go and make mummy and daddy proud.
He is beautiful.
Such a role model at this young age, best of luck 🍀🍀🍀 may you become one of the best ;)
I pray a loved one can accompany him on his journey, a new country and a city like New York would be especially hard to navigate as an 11 year old. Best wishes x
Seeing him cry brought tears to my eyes. I wish he could go with his family. Thanks for the opportunity all the same
Just tell your friends..every ballerina needs a male partner to dance with.
Well said 👏
Best comment
Why not a female partner? In any case, we live in a world where I am allowed to ''identify' as anything I want, so... oh wait! I'm not male...
Im happy for him may God lead him and protect him his dreams will come true Amen ❤❤🙏🏾🙏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Amen
I wish him well in his endeavors. I wish he had a benevolent benefactor to look after him. I want him to soar high and reach the world with his gift. Good luck young man. We are all proud of you. Please protect him and don't send him alone. What a beautiful spirit.
his passion is through the roof...he will live...he will eat...he will dream ballet.. his drive will propel him to endless possibilities....
I wish there was a way for his family to join him in his travels. He shouldn’t have to go alone.
God bless you! Never give up xxx
Beautiful boy. I wish him all the best.
He need a safety and security plan to protect him at home and abroad. He will be vulnerable for his success (jealousy) and his youth. That is a sentiment expressed by many. I hope he and his Mom are safe and secure. He is a treasure. God Bless.
I am very happy for you. I wish you the best of everything.❤️
God had plans for u all along ..what a wonderful blessing.and on another not CHOOSE ur friends wisely. Success to u
This little guy is so sweet I just wanna give him a big hug ❤️. So mature, too. I hope he can follow his dreams and have a wonderful time in New York.
Looking forward to seeing you dance on the world stage. You are an inspiration. Many blessings are coming your way. God bless you.
They need to fly his family out too. He's still a child. They can't pluck him away from his parents & all he's known for 9 yrs. A parent, his ballet teacher, they all should take turns or all be with him. That's the right way to do it.
God bless him
Amen
I hope this child has a lovely and safe time in America, and is only surrounded by good people, and hopefully someone else he can relate to
Congratulations. I'm so happy for you. God bless you and do well
All I can say is you go boy!
I'm so happy for him 🥰
Sweet little boy I wish him all the happiness and success in the world 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Reach high young king, the universe is yours for the taking. Looking forward to hearing and seeing more from you.
Lord cover this young King❤🙏
Amen
Thank God for your life o,God just singled you out.
May the same God help you to the top iJMN.
Such raw talent and humble beginnings x
He is truly on his way to greatness
He is sacrificing so much for his future and I commend such a young man for doing so. With all the love and hard work he will prosper.
Wow! Simply amazing. I'm so proud of you young man.
The God Of Miracles has done it for You 5 years and 9 years in the USA fully sponsored.....my dear God will take care of You and Your Family Don't Worry Be Happy 🤗
I hope there are no evil strings attached. There usually are.
I hug my phone as a parent would hug a child and I of my self was in theaters my advice as a mother to you is that God always hand pick his best eaven when we don't know he is working it out for the good in our life go with God grace and blessings your family will be all well he will take care of you and all of them. I know your new friend will work hard to get into the dance studio be kind to all of them that is showing God loves. I live in New York and will make an extra effort to see you and if I can help in any way I will and if I can huge you I will I have two daughters and three granddaughter we will hope to see you on one of the famous theaters poforming some time soon hopefully Alvin Hayley dance studio will be able to feature you in one of their products. Blessings to you and keep up the good work 🙏😇❤️
From a family in New York City
.
Thank you a piece of what you just said touched my heart, "God always hand pick his best even when we don't know". I am starting to see some things clearer now, BLESS YOUR HEART.
Protect this beautiful young man at all costs
Im in tears....I wish you a life full of blessings and i pray for you to live your dream and most of all happyness. You made your Mother so proud. And im proud of you .
Hoping a fund is being created to send his family with him. 😩🙏🏾💔He is so young to be away that long.
Congratulations Anthony! Keep working hard and surely you will succeed.
Amen🙏🏾
Why are people being so negative towards this young man's opportunity? there are children from Asia and Europe that attend these ballet schools and their parents do not go and the kids turn out fine and they will taken care of. This is a very normal thing nothing will happen to this boy. Ballet school is just like any other private boarding school that children temporarily attend. Please allow him to continue being blessed with his opportunity .
God bless this child! Stay strong and positive! And just because you received a scholarship doesn’t mean you have to trade in your soul! Remember they sought YOU out. Also, It’s ok the pick up new culture but don’t forget where you come from. Try as much as possible not to be colonized. Always be authentically YOU!!!! Be careful! Stay safe! Work hard! And enjoy the process!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
May he keep his course....stay focus and may the Lord watch over him.
Amen
I like the background music
May God Almighty protect and guide this boy always as he goes.
Fantastic dancers. He's obviously excellent, but so are the other dancers in the video. Their teacher must be very talented.
Congratulations on getting a scholarship, what a wonderful opportunity.