Budding Billy Elliots from across the West Midlands are to appear in a reality TV show revealing how ballet has improved their school grades.Hundreds of youngsters from Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Birmingham worked alongside members of the Birmingham Royal Ballet with one headteacher saying the experience became a “turning point” for some students who had struggled in lessons. Each pupil got individual coaching as well as mentoring support during 18 months of filming.
The Channel 4 show Ballet Changed My Life will air later this month.
Dame Mo Brennan, headteacher at Hillcrest Secondary School in Dudley, one of the schools taking part, said the programme had helped improve students’ performance in class.
She said: “We got together a group of children, some of whom had challenges in their life and some who were very, very talented, to enjoy a range of experiences working with the BRB.
“This has been a turning point in their lives. I think the programme makers, the students and their parents have all be surprised by the impact it has had.
“It has taught them about things like self control, the opportunities these children have access to and also, because they saw the dancers work so hard, the dedication needed to succeed.”
Former headboy at Hillcrest Danny Haywood, aged 16, now studying at Old Swinsford Hospital School, gave up his former passion of football to take up ballet.
He said: “I hated it at first but I can see it is quite skillful. It teaches you to be open-minded and not judge something by how it looks.
“Just because you don’t like something doesn’t mean you can’t be motivated by it.”
The programme-makers said the training regime required the teenagers to stick to strict rules including no hats, no drinks and no swearing or face being sent out of the classroom.
They will face appearing on stage with professionals from the BRB during a performance of Romeo and Juliet in the show’s finale.
By John Brenan
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