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Jacob Krupnick’s Oscar® Qualified Then Comes The Body shares a story of the first classical ballet academy in Nigeria
Los Angele, CA (September 26, 2024). Writer, Director, and Producer Jacob Krupnick’s Then Comes The Body is a beautiful documentary short featuring the now-famous ballet school Leap of Dance Academy in Lagos, Nigeria. The Academy started in the front yard of founder Daniel Owoseni Ajala, who dedicated his own resources into starting the foundation, providing dance education to underprivileged children in the area – of which some have gone on to find brighter opportunities in other countries.
During the peak of Covid, he recorded his students performing ballet in the rain and the videos went viral, capturing the imagination of audiences around the world. This incredible documentary short has qualified to be considered for the 2025 Oscars® after winning the Best Short Non-Fiction at Short Shorts Tokyo.
Logline: When a video of kids dancing in the rain goes viral, it brings global attention to an unlikely ballet school outside Lagos, Nigeria. Now, Daniel Owoseni Ajala – who learned ballet over YouTube – is training students to perform on the world stage.
Jacob Krupnick is a filmmaker from New York who tells stories told 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. Jacob’s 2012 feature debut, Girl Walk // All Day was an early crowd-funding phenomenon, with hundreds of interactive screenings at film festivals, museums, and public spaces around the world. He’s currently developing the follow-up to Girl Walk // All Day.
The spectacular cinematography was created by Soren Nielsen. This documentary short took home Best Short Doc at San Francisco Dance Film Festival 2023. Audience Favorite at DOCUTAH, and Best Short Film at Film Fest Petaluma. Plus Desert Views Jury Award at the Palm Springs Shortfest. And the Audience Award for Best Documentary at Palm Springs Shortfest.
This soulful documentary has qualified to be considered for a 2025 Academy® Award.
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