Boys in Ballet: Meet Andrew

As part of 'Get Scotland Dancing', we have a "Bring a boy to Ballet" week, 10-16 March. Meet one of our former students, Andrew...

Get Scotland Dancing is a nationwide initiative with a number of dance events running throughout the year and across the country, including "Get Dancin" offering free dance classes across Scotland. Our 'Bring a boy' week hopes to introduce boys to the world of dance as a fun and energetic activity.

Meet our boys...

We are especially proud of our male dance students and, as part of 'Get Dancin' week, would like to highlight their achievements, dedication and determination.

Meet Andrew Coleman (18) who is now training full-time in dance:

• Where are you training now? I am in my 3rd year of training full-time at Northern Ballet School with a focus on Jazz. When I graduate, I will have a National Diploma in Professional Dance at NVQ Level 6.
• What performances and shows have you been involved in? I was in Children's Theatre and Stage Experience shows when I was with CSBS and also performed with CSBS and Ballet West. Since being at college I have performed in Coppelia, Dancing to the Manchester Beat, Swan Lake, TV appearance on CBBC's The Slammer and Dancing Through the Ages.
• So... Why do you dance? I find it a really hard question to answer, probably harder than it should be. I mean you train for hours and hours a day, exhaust yourself, get shouted out, push yourself to the limit for the chance at even a small improvement then have to repeat it all the next day. Also let's not forget that you have no life outside those studio walls. When I lay it all out like that it makes it hard to convince anyone to go into dance and that's only scratching the surface. Yet despite this you keep going back to the studios and you couldn't see yourself doing anything else. I'm not sure why exactly but I think it's something to do with that feeling when you're on stage. The world is a crazy and confusing place but right there, on that stage, in that moment everything just makes sense. You pour everything you've got into those few moments and when you hear the applause and see all the smiling faces something just takes over you. I suppose that's why we push ourselves so much, so we can entertain the audience better, make them smile. Yes, I will go and learn that trick, yes I will practice that step, yes I will spend hours and hours just cleaning up 30 seconds of a dance just so that some strangers can enjoy the show. I suppose that's what it all comes down to really, the thrill and happiness you get from making someone happy by doing something you love. 
• Any advice for other boys not sure whether to choose dance as a career?  If you enjoy being on stage, don't stop! With each show you do, and the better you get, that indescribable feeling you get on stage will just keep getting stronger and stronger and it'll drive you to become better each time.

Well done Andrew... We can't wait to see you graduate and start performing!