Billy Elliot the Forum

Joon-hyung is 11 years old and will debut as the newest Billy in the world this weekend in Seoul.

After seeing the movie, "Billy Elliot" he fell in love with ballet and began attending the school at Universal Ballet Theatre and has appeared in several ballet competitions in the year he's been dancing.

Since Joon-hyung has not debuted yet, I have moved his thread to Cast Leavers and Arrivals. When he has made his debut, I will put him into Current Cast.

Congratulations to Joon-hyung on his debut as Billy on this first day of a new decade!

Here is footage of Joon-hyung meeting the crowd and being interviewd after his debut on Jan. 1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx0cfmiRic4

And here he is giving a backstage tour.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWo2p8YuUKE

Joon-hyung appears to be a very smiley, happy young man with a very outgoing personality. He'll do well as Billy.

I'm also struck, especially in that second video, about how close knit a "family" the cast is. I know that's true to a certain degree with every production of the show, but it seems especially so with the production in Korea. Maybe it has something to do with the culture there or the fact that this show really seems to be pioneering in many ways in Korea and they all feel part of something very important that's going on there.

I don't know if I'm alone in that feeling. Perhaps other forum members (especially Cha who has seen the show many times there) would especially weigh in this.