SPAN Launches Ballet Society in Lagos

Iyke Bede

The cultural landscape of Lagos is about to experience a graceful transformation as the Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN) launched its Ballet Society. The groundbreaking initiative aims to bring the elegance, discipline, and beauty of ballet to the heart of Nigeria’s bustling city.

The Ballet Society owes its inception to a highly successful three-week intensive training program, led by the esteemed Director of the Ballet Society of Ottawa in Canada, Michelle Brawley. Under her expert mentorship, aspiring dancers, as well as ballet instructors immersed themselves in a rigorous environment, honing their skills in classical ballet techniques, contemporary dance forms, and choreography.

Brawley, expressed her excitement about elevating the art of ballet in Nigeria, hoping to replicate a similar feat she attained in Ottawa. 

“I wanted people to understand what ballet is really about; what it brings to the students,” Brawley remarked. “My job was to explain it so that they can recognise when they go watch a performance and what makes a performance so amazing.  It is a combination of skills that they must learn to become a dancer.”

Participants of the intensive training program expressed gratitude for the invaluable guidance provided by Brawley, emphasizing their newfound understanding of ballet’s expressive power and the significance of discipline and precision in their craft. In addition, SPAN unveiled its latest endeavour—the SPAN Music Club for Kids. This development reflects the organisation’s commitment to nurturing young talent and fostering creativity.