Billy Elliot the Forum

I agree that the line is crutial for the story to work, otherwise Billy would never leave to go to the ballet school as there is no way that dad could afford the payments himself Afterall, dad is working his boll**ks of to find the 50p's so Billy can prance about like a fruit.

At most ballet school auditions, a select few are chosen as "scholarship students", the particularly talented ones that get to attend the school for free, all expenses paid. Many moons ago, that was me!

Billy may have very well been chosen particularly if he could whip out the turns like he does in Electricity

Perhaps it is a topical reflection of David Cameron's Government's swinging cuts on local services???