THEN COMES THE BODY

THEN COMES THE BODY is a short documentary about underdogs, globalism, and dance. It starts with Daniel Ajala, a self-taught ballet dancer who discovers the European dance form in the American movie SAVE THE LAST DANCE. With no ballet schools in Nigeria, he opens Leap of Dance Academy in his front yard: humble, rigorous, and free to anyone with dedication.

Then in 2020 — while the pandemic rages around the world — Ajala uploads a video of his students dancing on cement in the rain. The feel-good video goes viral, putting this unlikely dance school on the map. With the attention comes new opportunities for the students — but in the sandy streets of Ajangbadi, nothing comes easily. As top students compete for international scholarships and begin to leave home, Ajala realizes the best thing he can do is be a bridge for the next generation.

Director Statement

Dance collaborations are central to my work. There’s some irony here: I grew up profoundly uncomfortable with my own body, often gripped by shame. By working with people who articulate themselves beautifully through movement, I enjoy a process where I'm continually an outsider and a novice. Because our relationships are built on a partnership rather than the expectation of a perfect performance, my work is different from what you’d see from a professional choreographer.

I learned about Leap of Dance in the summer of 2020. The pandemic was raging around the world, and uplifting stories were in short supply. But I was less interested in the viral video than the unlikeliness of ballet thriving in a courtyard in Lagos. I had so many questions beyond the plucky soundbites and instagram posts.

Speaking with Daniel, I learned how the rush of attention had changed their lives and brought new challenges. Success also means entering a competitive world, dominated by white people, white spaces, white tutus. The news anchors have no appetite for this complexity. This film comes from my belief that Leap of Dance deserves a deeper, more dignifying portrait.

DIRECTOR BIO

Jacob Krupnick is a filmmaker and photographer from New York who creates stories through movement.

His immersive dance films set in busy cities spark curiosity and delight on the surface, while exploring larger questions about identity and public space. His subjects — dancers, athletes, toddlers — subvert expectations about how they’re expected to behave. Krupnick often collaborates with people whose voices are not well-represented to find unconventional and dignifying ways to share narratives.

Jacob's 2012 feature debut, GIRL WALK // ALL DAY was an early crowd-funding phenomenon, using Kickstarter and social media to fund the film, find talent, crew, and organize hundreds of interactive screenings around the world. Told entirely through dance and set to Girl Talk's mashup album, All Day, the film screened at over 30 film festivals, including events at SxSW, Bonaroo, Dia Art Foundation, Mass MOCA, and the Munich Film Festival.