You may remember Anthony Madu from a video that went viral in June 2020. Shared to millions on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), the video captures 11-year-old Madhu dancing barefoot. Balloons flying high.
Soon, millions of people will see not only Madu’s talent, but his story, which is currently being played out at one of England’s most prestigious dance training venues: Elmhurst Ballet School.
Launching on Disney+ on March 29th, Honey It follows the young dancer’s journey from Lagos to Birmingham and the highs and lows of adjusting to Elmhurst’s rigorous dance curriculum, academics and social life. We spoke to the film star about his experience leaving his family behind, his career aspirations, and what he hopes other dancers learn from this documentary.
Let’s go back to where it all started: that viral video. What inspired you to make this film?
Actually, I wasn’t the one who photographed it; my old dance teacher [Daniel Ajala] Did. I wasn’t supposed to go to class that day. I only went to class because I was bored. My teacher decided to film it and post it on Instagram Prosperity!
That moment transports you to a different country. What is it like to move and live abroad?
When I first moved to the UK it was great but at the same time it was a bit difficult due to the change in weather, homesickness, food, etc. But I think I’m actually used to everything here.
Can you talk about your early ballet training?
when i started taking ballet [Leap of Dance Academy], I used to take classes on Saturday mornings. But as time went on, I started taking more classes during the week and after school. On weekends, I train from 8 a.m. to about 5 p.m. It was a bit difficult because of the sunshine in Nigeria, but I think it was well worth it.
During your training in Nigeria and now in England, have you encountered negative attitudes as a male-identified dancer?
I’m not dealing with it at the moment because we have more male ballet dancers here than in Nigeria, which is really fine with me. When I was in Nigeria, I felt bullied for doing ballet. It’s not actually seen as something a person should do.
For dancers who face the same types of injuries and others who are just dreaming of a career in dance, what do you hope they take away from watching this film?
They should never give up. They must forget about negativity and think more about how far they want to go, and always remember that it doesn’t matter what people say; it matters how far they want to go. What matters is what you do and how you do it.
Are there any dancers who have inspired you on your ballet journey?
When I was training in Nigeria I respected [American Ballet Theatre’s] Calvin Royal III. It’s nice to have someone you can look up to and look at them and say, “I want to be like that one day.” But today – I’m not saying that because he’s my current ballet teacher –I would say [Joshua Barwick]. He is diligent and kind, and he wants to know [his students]. He talks to us.
What’s next for you?
This is a difficult question. This movie gave me a lot to think about. I could focus entirely on classical ballet, but I’m also interested in modern dance. When I came to Elmhurst we had contemporary classes every week and it felt like I had found a new thing that I loved. I think one of the best parts of life is realizing things you never really thought would happen. I like modern dance because you can do more moves than ballet. There are a lot of weird things you can try. I am also interested in entering the entertainment industry.
It seems like you’ve become a movie fan. How was your filming experience?
The photography team and creative team are great. first, [filming] It felt a little strange, but I got used to it. I recently watched this movie with the whole school, and I actually thought it was pretty good. There was one scene where I cried for a while – it was when I left my family in Nigeria and came to England. That feeling of being away from my family came back. When the credits rolled, the audience applauded for five minutes. I didn’t expect so many people to like it so much, it made me cry again. It’s really exciting.
