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Raising the barre! 11-year-old Nigerian boy who went viral after being filmed dancing barefoot...

• https://www.dailymail.co, By CARLY STERN

An 11-year-old Nigerian boy went viral this summer when millions of people watched a video of him dancing ballet barefoot in the rain — and now the talented youngster has secured a scholarship to New York's prestigious American Ballet Theatre.

Anthony Mmesoma Madu from Lagos captivated social media users — including celebrities like Viola Davis and Cynthia Erivo — with his dedication to the dance, and his ability to pull of stunning moves in the rain without any shoes on.

Now, thanks to the international attention the video has received, the pre-teen will train ABT online this summer as he prepares to travel to the US for more training in 2021.

Mastering ballet is difficult even in a proper environment with the right footwear, but Anthony showed in the viral video that he can pull of a beautiful pirouette anywhere, at any time.

In the clip, he is seen outside his dance studio, Leap of Dance Academy, practicing on muddy pavement that is wet from rain. He's barefoot, in shorts and a tank top, but dances masterfully, spinning, leaping, and doing arabesques.  

'Ballet is my life. When I am dancing, I feel as if I am on top of the world,' he told Reuters. 

'Any time my mom sends me on an errand, I dance ballet before I go to that place and it makes me feel very, very happy. I so much love ballet.'


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