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PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 24 July 2019

Lil Nas X ties Billboard record set by Mariah, ‘Despacito’

By MESFIN FEKADU The EP also features the Top
Associated Press 40 hits “Panini” and “Ro-
NEW YORK (AP) — Lil Nas X deo” with Cardi B.
has taken his horse to the “Old Town Road” is also
old town road and ridden it spending its 16th week on
to the top of the Billboard top of both the R&B/Hip-
charts for 16 weeks, tying a Hop and rap songs charts.
record set by Mariah Carey The song has several ver-
and Luis Fonsi. sions, including remixes
“Old Town Road” logs its featuring Diplo, Young
16th week at No. 1 on Bill- Thug and Mason Ramsey;
board’s Hot 100 chart this Billboard counts the original
week, matching the suc- song and its remix versions
cess that Carey and Boyz as one when calculating
II Men’s “One Sweet Day” chart position, thus help-
achieved in 1995-1996. ing “Old Town Road” stay
Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and on top.A number of songs
Justin Bieber’s “Despacito” have debuted at No. 2 on
accomplished the feat in the Hot 100 chart, unable to
2017. push “Old Town Road” out
No song has spent more of its top position, includ-
than 16 weeks at No. 1 on ing two tunes from Taylor
the all-genre Hot 100 chart Swift (“You Need to Calm
in the 61-year history of the Down,” ‘’ME!”); Ed Sheer-
Billboard charts. This June 1, 2019 file photo shows Lil Nas X performing at HOT 97 Summer Jam 2019 in East an and Bieber’s “I Don’t
The country-rap “Old Town Rutherford, N.J. Care”; and two songs from
Road” was originally a solo Associated Press Shawn Mendes (“If I Can’t
song, but 20-year-old Lil ter Squidward Tentacles country enough (it peaked in time where people from Have You,” ‘’Senorita” with
Nas X added Billy Ray Cyrus saying, “Please stream ‘Old at No. 19 on the coun- all over the world and all Camila Cabello).
to the track and it topped Town Road.’” try charts). But the drama walks of life find they have Swift’s “Look What You
the charts, achieving most “Me on the internet this didn’t hurt the song; it only more in common than they Made Me Do” stopped
of its success through audio whole week tryna break propelled it. “This song has do different. It’s a moment “Despacito” from reaching
streaming. the billboard record,” he been a uniter not a divid- we’ve all shared and I’m a 17th week at No. 1 when
Lil Nas X is looking forward wrote in the caption. er,” Cyrus said in a state- grateful for it.” the pop smash jumped
to setting a new Billboard “Old Town Road” initially ment Monday. “Old Town Road” appears from No. 77 to No. 1 in 2017.
record next week. He post- was in a bit of controversy “I’m giving God the glory on Lil Nas X’s debut EP “7,” Celine Dion’s “Because You
ed a video Monday on so- in March when Billboard now for allowing me the gift which peaked at No. 2 Loved Me” ended Carey
cial media of the “Sponge- removed it from its coun- to be part of such a special on Billboard’s 200 albums and Boyz II Men’s epic run
Bob SquarePants” charac- try charts, deeming it not song. It’s a unique moment chart earlier this month. in 1996.q
Summer camp uses dance to teach students life skills

By ANDREA SMITH want to dance — because was in middle school, at
Associated Press we are dancing most of the The Fox Theatre in Atlanta.
JONESBORO, Ga. (AP) — day,” Sales said. He trained for three years
Of all the mantras Anai “But the core of the program after that with the Atlanta
Espinoza and her fellow is personal development.” Ballet on a scholarship, and
campers recite each The Atlanta camp ran this later became a dance
morning at AileyCamp, the year from May 30 through instructor. Davis said he
eighth grader’s favorite is July 5, concluding with a doesn’t think his mother
this: “I am in control.” performance July 6 in the could have afforded
“It makes me believe I have city of Jonesboro, about dance classes without the
the power to choose the 15 miles (24 kilometers) scholarship.
right thing,” she said. south of Atlanta. Sponsors Kids at school teased
Anai is one of a thousand covered the cost of Davis when he began
students in 10 states dance training and attire, dancing, but AileyCamp
this summer attending breakfast and lunch, field offered a safe haven and
AileyCamp, a free six-week In this Saturday, July 6, 2019 photo, a dancer leaps across the trips and classes for creative confidence boost, he said.
program for youngsters stage during a ballet routine at the Clayton County Performing communication and He said he enjoys giving
in financial need or with Arts Center in Jonesboro, Ga. personal development. back to the program by
academic, social or family Associated Press At the end of camp, Atlanta helping new campers build
challenges. and other communications students to its camp each Ballet offers 10 students a their confidence.
AileyCamp was founded in skills. It also teaches them summer since 2014. About full-tuition scholarship for “It’s an open door to
1989 in Kansas City, Missouri, how to eat well, resolve half of those have some a year of training, which is finding new things, doing
by world-renowned conflicts and become exposure to dance, but eligible for renewal, Sales new things,” Davis said.
dancer, choreographer leaders, according to a very few have professional said. One scholarship “When I got to AileyCamp,
and director Alvin Ailey, description of the program training, said Atlanta covers $800-$2,300 worth of it just reassured me that,
who died later that year. on the Alvin Ailey American AileyCamp director Diane dance classes, depending ‘Hey, it’s OK. Everybody is
In addition to teaching the Dance Theater website. Caroll Sales. on the placement level. different. You shouldn’t be
students dance, the camp Atlanta Ballet’s Centre “The most important thing Kameron Davis attended judged by what you do
introduces them to the For Dance Education is to accept campers that his first AileyCamp about just because not a lot of
visual arts, creative writing has admitted about 100 are willing to dance — they 10 years ago, when he people do it.’”q