Billy Elliot, the musical in NYC- a review from 7/7-2009

I went to see the Billy Elliot musical in New York City this tuesday night at the Imperial Theatre. The story in the performance was following the film version closely but had at least one scene that was completely new. It is about the teenage boy Billy, who is growing up together with his father and brother in the coal mining district in England during the Thatcher-era. It´s a rather political drama going on underneath the main theme that is about Billy and his awakening interest for dancing. By chance he happens to visit the local dance school when there is a rehearsal going on with the girls. The dance teacher however notices that he could have some talent for dancing and makes him come back and try dancing a bit more. His narrow-minded father thinks he is attending the boxing class instead. Some complications arise of course when the dance teacher wants Billy to go to an audition in London at the Royal Ballet School.

In this particular performance, the role of Billy was played by David Alvarez, a young talent born to Cuban parents in 1994. He started ballet at the age of eight in Montreal and his family has lived in New York City since 2006, when he won a full scholarship to study classical ballet at the American Ballet Theatre´s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. With ABT, David has danced featured roles in ”Sleeping Beauty” and ”The Nutcracker”. He also studies piano on scholarship at the 92nd Street Y School of Music. In class, Alvarez is a sober, dedicated student, practicing his jumps on the sidelines when other groups take the floor. If he is lucky, he will eventually advance to ABT II, the junior troupe. If he is vey lucky, he will end up in the main Company.

As Billy he floats through high leaps and multiple turns with a plumed softness and an innocent uprightness. ”This”, the 14-year-old says of his exhilarating turn on Broadway, ”is just for once-once in a lifetime.” Ballet he hopes will be forever.

I liked this performance very much, and it´s wonderful to enjoy both very good dancing combined with good singing and acting at the same time. Together it´s a great show for the eyes. David Alvarez is dancing better than any boy in his age I have ever seen so far in Europe, and I will most certainly be following his dancing career from now on.