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A Warkworth boy will find out if he has the lead role in the NZ production of the West End musical hit Billy Elliot this month.
Brandon Lewis, aged 12, has been dancing “since he could walk”.
The Mahurangi College student has made it through two stages of auditions and will participate in a three-day intensive audition session starting April 22 before a final decision is announced.
“I get nervous at the beginning of each audition but once I get into it, it’s just like another dance class,” he says.
Brandon was originally just looking for audition experience when he put his name forward for the part of Billy Elliot, but now that he has made it through the initial stages, he believes he can get the part.
In preparation, his weekly routine consists of 13 hours of dance including ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop and tap.
Plus, he visits the gym to help develop the strength necessary for ballet and he does singing lessons for the role of Billy Elliot.
Brandon says his dream is to make dancing his career and he would like to be in the Identity Dance Crew.
But his mother Sonya says that at this stage, it is just a matter of taking the opportunities that arise.
Brandon says his mother has been a huge help, teaching him ballet, and Andrew Cesan of Identity Dance Crew who teaches him hip-hop and tap.
Brandon recently performed at the Auckland Arts Festival after doing a workshop with the New Zealand Dance Company.
He has also featured on Breakfast to talk about dance.
