Young ballet dancers move through classrooms and open courtyards in Lagos. Their bodies shift between careful practice and playful energy. As they leap and turn, movement, music and image come together to explore identity, belief and belonging.
In Ijó, artist Gabriel Moses follows students from the Leap of Dance Academy in Nigeria. He brings together his Nigerian heritage and his South London upbringing. Classical ballet, often linked to European tradition,
is reimagined through the strength and skill of Black dancers. Moments of strict discipline soften into gestures inspired by everyday life and street dance. Christian symbols and hymn-like singing mix with clapping and rhythms rooted in African traditions, in a powerful score by James William Blades.
The film moves between quiet, close moments and larger, shared scenes. Children laugh and practise. Families gather and watch. Through dance, the film shows how movement can carry stories across cultures and generations.
Instagram Presents: Ask It Anyway | Gabriel Moses
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xos-125532