Billy Elliot Eletricty dance question

[Zesty2]

Posted: 1/27/15 at 5:55pm

Hi, I've done a search but IT didn't find anything.
I've been watching 2 versions of Billy Elliot online and the Electricty dance was very different, one quite ballet based (and a huge amount of turns!) and an older one in London with more things like a back flip off the wall.

I was wondering if there are lots of different ones, was it just a time thing or do then hangs it depending on the childs tallent/skills?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/27/15 at 6:49pm

Yes, often dependant on the individual actor's skills.

[carash22]

Posted: 1/27/15 at 6:55pm

Updated On: 7/6/20 at 06:55 PM

[Zesty2]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 2:52am

Thank you.i always assumed it was ballets asked but this one is mostly acro and hiphop, so different to the beautiful ballet one I saw an American billy do
The acro one is 13mins in http://youtu.be/--BXbg3MCLE

[mikey2573]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 7:56am

There are traditionally two kinds of "Electricity"; ballet and street (sometimes called hip-hop). Of the three original Billys from London only Liam Mower did the ballet "Electricity"; Lomas and McGuire (sp?) were both street. That has continued throughout the West End run; you are either a Ballet BIlly or a Street Billy.

In the USA pretty much every Billy did a ballet "Electricity" with slight variations to emphasize the child's strengths (example Trent Kawolick did some Irish step dancing since that was his expertise). America has not seen (to my knowledge) a complete Street Billy in any of the professional productions (Broadway, Chicago, 1st national tour, 2nd national tour).

[homeimp]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 4:06pm

I was told by one of the original Bdwy Billys that his Electricity wasn't even choreographed by Peter Darling. I believe it was done by a lady who worked under him. Each Billy did a slightly different routine. I believe Michael Dameski, the Australian boy who came to NYC to play Billy, may have been the most "street dance" Billy.

[StephieElise]

Posted: 1/29/15 at 7:30am

I remember reading that Michael Dameski did some acrobatic/gymnastics stuff while on tour that the other Billys didn't do, so they definitely do tailor it to the performer. Speaking of Michael, just in case this didn't go as viral on your side of the world, this is the kind of dancer he is now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb9-i-yTxr0