SPAN Launches The Inaugural Queen Esther Ball.
An Inaugural Ball to Celebrate Two Decades of Impact by Spotlighting and Empowering Twenty (20) Young Debutantes.
LAGOS, NIGERIA – October 14, 2025 – The Society for Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN), Nigeria’s leading institution for world-class performing arts training announced the upcoming Queen Esther’s Ball. The maiden edition of the ball, scheduled for the 19th of October 2025, is a cornerstone activity leading up to SPAN’s 20th anniversary which comes up in a few months.
The Queen Esther Ball will be an evening of celebration, forward vision and fundraising. The event will bring the first public appearance of 20 remarkable young ladies showcasing their stories of resilience and leadership potential before a distinguished audience of donors and supporters.
A Vision Realized : Empowering Nigeria’s Youth
The Queen Esther Ball, an impact project designed to become an annual event, is championed by Sarah Boulos, founder and Director of SPAN, and a pioneering figure in Nigerian performing arts education. For two decades, Mrs Boulos has steadfastly used the performing arts and creative education to empower Nigeria’s youth, shaping their character, careers and futures far beyond the stage.
“When I started SPAN, it was because I recognized a significant gap in the attention and support available for young Nigerians pursuing a creative career,” said Sarah Boulos. “I saw immense, untapped potential, raw talent that simply needed proper training, mentorship and opportunity. SPAN was built on the belief that performing arts education transforms lives far beyond the stage: it builds confidence, communication skills, creativity, and leadership skills. Qualities that serve our graduates in every aspect of life and work.”
Mrs Boulos emphasized the cascading impact of the SPAN model: “The SPAN effect creates ripples throughout Nigerian society. Every student we train goes on to positively touch hundreds, sometimes thousands of lives. Our alumni are now on stages around the world in Hollywood, Nollywood, in schools and theaters, dance studios and other industries. Some have even gone on to setting up their own operations mentoring the next generation. This multiplier effect was one of the key founding intentions for setting up SPAN twenty years ago.”
She concluded by reaffirming the world-class quality of Nigerian talent : “Nigeria’s creative talent is simply world-class. SPAN exists to ensure that this talent receives world-class training. Whether our graduates perform on Lagos stages or international screens, or choose to work in boardrooms or classrooms, they carry the excellence and confidence that a strong arts education provides.”
Two Decades of Measurable Impact
Since its founding in 2025, SPAN has nurtured over 10,000 students. The organization’s tangible impact includes but is not limited to:
624 students trained and certified in acting, voice, movement, and production.
225 productions mounted, ranging from classical works to contemporary Nigerian narratives.
50,000+ underserved youth reached through extensive community programs.
SPAN’s alumni includes notable names like Ice Nweke, Wisdom Ukpe Udeoka Justin, Gbenga Yusuf, Zosu Ebenezeer Adebowale and other trailblazers flying the SPAN flag high in the global performance arts scene locally and internationally, thus validating SPAN’s holistic approach to creative development.
The Queen Esther Ball Highlights
The Queen Esther Ball : A symbolic coronation of 20 resilient young women entrepreneurs trained through SPAN, providing them a platform to present their story of recovery and enterprise to friends and partners of SPAN.
Debutante Performance: Captivating musical theatre, dance, and storytelling performances by SPAN’s current students.
Global Guest Artists : Exclusive performances by international tablets including cello maestro Michael Vollhart, the renowned Battery Dance Company, and the high-energy Zip Zap Circus.
Showcase Theme: The evening’s showcase, will be a demonstration of its economic support initiative fused seamlessly with a unique blend of culture, creativity and social impact.
Proceeds from the Queen Esther Ball will directly support the debutantes and will further SPAN’s continued operations, while also laying the groundwork for the next edition of the Queen Esther Ball 2026.
The Next 20 Years: Deepening the Impact
The Queen Esther Ball serves as the launching pad for SPAN’s future vision, which includes several ambitious plans to sustain and deepen its impact:
Enhance scholarship programs to reach talented youth from all economic backgrounds.
Strengthening governance and operational systems to restructure the leadership of the organization for better efficiency.
Expanded facilities to accommodate growing student demand.
Master classes with international and Nigerian industry professionals.
Alumni network formalization to strengthen community and mentorship.
Broader initiatives to reach more youths in indigent and underserved communities with the power and message of the SPAN effect.
Research initiatives documenting performing arts education’s measurable impact on youth development.
Concluding her remarks on the forward momentum, Sarah Boulos stated, “We are celebrating where we have been and strategically using it as a launchpad for where we are going. The next 20 years will see SPAN deepen its impact, reach more students, and continue proving that investing in performing arts education is a profound investment in Nigeria’s future.”
About Sarah Boulos
Sarah Boulos is a certified performing arts administrator and drama CrEd certified instructor, who has distinguished herself as a creative entrepreneur and a leading performance arts education advocate. As a Founder and Director of the Society for Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPA), her two decades of unwavering dedication have been central to transforming the creative landscape for young Nigerians, ensuring their access to world-class training and professional opportunities.
About The Society For Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN)
Founded in 2005, SPAN is Nigeria’s leading training institution dedicated to accessible, world-class education across dance, music, drama, and production arts. Its mission is to develop well-rounded professionally prepared creative artists from diverse backgrounds, fostering confidence, and leadership that empowers them for success in the global creative economy and beyond.
