Page 36 - Demo

36 MOST MAGAZINE - ISSUE 69Q: What drew you to the story of Leap of Dance Academy in Lagos, and why did you feel it was important to tell?A: I came across Leap of Dance Academy at the same time millions of other people did: during the first summer of the pandemic when their story went viral. I read everything I could find about the school%u2014it had all the elements of a feel-good story%u2014but my curiosity kept growing.I love working on stories rooted in movement. While ballet isn%u2019t a specific focus for me, I was curious about how this dance style, originally from Europe, made its way to Nigeria and what led it to thrive there.Q: Can you share a bit about the process of connecting with Daniel Owoseni Ajala and the students at the academy? What was their initial reaction to your project?A: It took almost a year of outreach to connect with the Leap of Dance team%u2014they had been inundated with press from all over the world. At first, my outreach was much more open; I simply wanted to learn more than what was available online. Eventually, I shared my work in a format they could watch on their phones and emphasized my collaborative approach, which differed from traditional news programs.Daniel introduced me to the school over WhatsApp video chats, and the conversation shifted once they realized I was genuinely interested in coming to Lagos to work together.Q: What were some of the challenges you faced during the production, particularly filming in Nigeria and capturing the essence of the ballet school?A: Whenever you leave home to make a film, you invite the unknown. Our local production team made the process as smooth as possible, but the neighborhood we worked in lacked reliable electricity, water, and bathrooms. It was hot, dusty, and had no accessible markets for supplies.However, these challenges don%u2019t translate on camera. To represent the school, we used a large cinema lens that allowed us to plant the camera in one spot and zoom in on small, meaningful moments without disturbing the natural flow of events. Q: Leap of Dance Academy is situated in an environment where ballet is not traditionally practiced. How did that contrast play into the storytelling of the film?A: I%u2019m especially drawn to performances that take place in unexpected settings, particularly in public spaces. I%u2019ve always been interested in how public spaces are defined and subverted.Even though much of the film takes place at the Leap of Dance Academy itself, there%u2019s something thrilling about seeing formal ballet practice in a setting far removed from the hallowed rehearsal spaces we imagine.