Dan's Papers - May 16, 2008

In the film, and now musical, Billy Elliott, an 11-year-old boy born into a family of coal miners and boxers in northern England decides to ditch his boxing lessons when he hears and sees a ballet class. Needless to say, his working class father and brother, currently on strike from the mines, aren't exactly supportive of his dream. But in a pivotal scene, the father is confronted by his older son when he decides to cross the picket line to work, hoping to make enough money to send Billy to London to audition for the Royal Ballet. Fast forward to the final scene: the bare, muscled back of an incredibly gorgeous man clad only in feathered pantaloons just before his debut in Swan Lake, and - well, let's just say that Danskin should be stationed in the lobby of the Imperial Theatre when the musical opens on Broadway in November.

It may not be every parent's dream to have his or her son a ballet star. But considering the steroids and guerilla tactics of professional sports, I'd say it's a fine choice. Or, as a friend said "I won't mind if my kid's the one winning the chess tournaments." My partner's brother, as a teen and young man, studied capoeira - an Afro-Brazilian dance/martial arts hybrid that's very elegant and very butch - acceptable to the most macho parent. But for many children there was just that one choice: ballet.

When I was 6, my classes took place in the basement of Pittsburgh's Carnegie Museum, as an intimidating old man with the body of Santa Claus overflowed from his chair, keeping time by pounding his cane against the floor. All the girls danced together, from little ones to teens. I was trying to follow a routine, moving across the floor, when I heard the thunder. I turned around and saw a group of toe-shoed women (probably 10-year-olds) stampeding toward me like horses gone mad.

Thankfully, now both genders have greater dance lesson options - jazz, modern, hip hop. Dance is cool. At the East Hampton Rec Center's "Boy's Tap 'n Gym" class, five- to seven-year-olds practice the basics of movement to music. Most of the class time is spent on coordination exercises. But for 10 minutes, the boys get to stomp around in loud tap shoes. And we parents get to watch our sons swing their hips and do pliés while singing "Hey, Good Lookin'."

Many venues on the East End offer ballet classes for girls in tutus and intrepid boys. But this summer, an unusual dance class will be offered at the Bay Street Theatre. Six years ago, pediatric physical therapist Joann Ferrara created a program called Dancing Dreams for physically challenged boys and girls from the age of three to 16. Featured on "The Today Show" and in national magazines, the program offers an opportunity for physically and medically challenged children (some students have been wheel-chair bound or required breathing tubes) to become ballet dancers. In tutus and with glitter makeup, these children, and their parents, ultimately realize their dreams: The class ends with a performance, in full costume.

Dancing Dreams classes are scheduled on Saturdays, from June 28 to August 23. The deadline for registration is May 21. Call the Bay Street Theatre, 725-0818, or www.dancingdreams.org