Josh Williams is your everyday teenager. He goes to the mall, he hangs out with friends, and his favourite subject is geography.
Only this 14 year old is studying ballet at Canada’s finest school, the National Ballet School of Canada in Toronto.
Up until a few months ago, Williams was a resident of Salmon Arm, dancing for the Shuswap Dance Centre.
Ballet is a way to relieve stress for Williams, who has been dancing since he was in kindergarten.
“I really like dancing … and movement, You get lost in it. You’re dancing and it fells great. You go in class and that’s what you’re focused on, you’re just calm and relaxed.”
Ballet poses a challenge for Williams, the challenge of being the perfect dancer, which he enjoys despite the pressure of perfection.
“You can’t be perfect in everyone’s eyes,” he said.
He dances for two hours in the morning and spends the afternoons alternating between different dance classes after his core school work is done.
He said he enjoys his modern-style dancing class, which is more of a freestyle class.
“Modern’s really fun. There’s not really a set way to do it,” said Williams.
Shuswap Dance Centre artistic director Carolyn Wonacott has been instructing Williams since he was six or seven years old and describes him as a “stunning dancer.”
“From a young age I think he knew he wanted to dance, right from the get go.”
Being a male ballet dancer has its challenges however.
“It hasn’t been easy being a boy and being a ballet dancer,” said Wonacott.
Williams wouldn’t discuss his passion for ballet while living in Salmon Arm, but in Toronto, half of his class consists of male dancers.
In residence, he is part of an eight-person group in the men’s dorm and in his down time he is a typical teenager who enjoys exploring Toronto with his friends.
The adjustment to a new school, new town and new lifestyle has been an interesting one for Williams, who is now accustomed to the sounds and vibe of the never-sleeping city.
However, he still finds time to miss his family.
“I miss having a younger brother and older sisters around to ask for help and stuff like that. I found the transition a little hard at the start but now it’s flowing smoothly,” the middle-child said.
Growing up, his older sister was in ballet and she inspired him to start.
Now in her Grade 12 year, she no longer dances, but Williams plans to keep up with the art.
He wants to continue dancing in the National Ballet company, and possibly in Europe.
“I’ve heard dance is a lot more appreciated there,” he said.
He lists Jorge Barani as an inspirational male ballet dancer.
His mother, Christine Williams is extremely proud.
“(There’s) not a lot of kids that they take. That’s the ultimate place to go,” she said.
He’s excited to see his family and is coming back for a visit at the end of October. Although he doesn’t have plans for Halloween, he might take his brother trick-or-treating.
Shuswap dancers Mackenzie Mount and Annah Cook will be auditioning for Royal Winnipeg ballet in November. Mount also attended the National Ballet School of Dance. Shea Wonacott won the “work your butt off” award at the LAX dance convention in Los Angeles.
