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| Pledge Watch: More Billy Elliots | Pledge Watch: More Billy Elliots |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| By Justin Parkinson Political reporter, BBC News | By Justin Parkinson Political reporter, BBC News |
| Politicians love announcing new initiatives. In this series we pluck a pledge from the archives. And see what happened next... | Politicians love announcing new initiatives. In this series we pluck a pledge from the archives. And see what happened next... |
| Billy Elliot had to leave his home town to pursue his ambition | Billy Elliot had to leave his home town to pursue his ambition |
| Billy Elliot is a film which has moved millions of people. | Billy Elliot is a film which has moved millions of people. |
| It shows the struggle of a boy, growing up in north-east England during the miners' strike of the mid-1980s, to overcome poverty and prejudice to fulfil his dream of becoming a ballet dancer. | It shows the struggle of a boy, growing up in north-east England during the miners' strike of the mid-1980s, to overcome poverty and prejudice to fulfil his dream of becoming a ballet dancer. |
| Billy eventually succeeds, leaving his family to study in London and become a leading professional. | Billy eventually succeeds, leaving his family to study in London and become a leading professional. |
| The Bafta-winning film has become a byword for youthful hope against the odds since its release in 2000. | The Bafta-winning film has become a byword for youthful hope against the odds since its release in 2000. |
| Politicians, unsurprisingly, have been keen to use its message of optimism. | Politicians, unsurprisingly, have been keen to use its message of optimism. |
| Among them was David Miliband, then schools minister, who promised in March 2004 that more young people in England, whatever their situation, would get the chance to emulate Billy. | Among them was David Miliband, then schools minister, who promised in March 2004 that more young people in England, whatever their situation, would get the chance to emulate Billy. |
| 'Enjoy the benefit' | 'Enjoy the benefit' |
| He announced four centres for advanced dance training would be set up in Gateshead, Leeds and London. | He announced four centres for advanced dance training would be set up in Gateshead, Leeds and London. |
| Mr Miliband said: "We all remember the character of Billy Elliot leaving his hometown to train in London. | Mr Miliband said: "We all remember the character of Billy Elliot leaving his hometown to train in London. |
| "I want to extend these opportunities to children similar to the character of Billy so they can enjoy the benefit of excellent training but still go to their local school and remain active participants in local artistic communities, without having to leave home." | "I want to extend these opportunities to children similar to the character of Billy so they can enjoy the benefit of excellent training but still go to their local school and remain active participants in local artistic communities, without having to leave home." |
| Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn's partnership helped popularise ballet | Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn's partnership helped popularise ballet |
| Means-tested grants were to provide between £600 and £3,000 a year for tuition out of school hours for children who passed the auditions. | Means-tested grants were to provide between £600 and £3,000 a year for tuition out of school hours for children who passed the auditions. |
| Those on family incomes below £25,000 would get the full amount, with partial grants for those with household earnings of up to £50,000. | Those on family incomes below £25,000 would get the full amount, with partial grants for those with household earnings of up to £50,000. |
| So, has the government's Centres for Advanced Training (CATs) scheme matched up to Mr Miliband's promise? | So, has the government's Centres for Advanced Training (CATs) scheme matched up to Mr Miliband's promise? |
| Caroline Miller, director of the lobby group Dance UK, said: "The whole ethos has definitely changed. Before there was just a complete lack of respect from government. | Caroline Miller, director of the lobby group Dance UK, said: "The whole ethos has definitely changed. Before there was just a complete lack of respect from government. |
| "They was never really a recognition of the role dance could play in young people's lives. That has shifted. | "They was never really a recognition of the role dance could play in young people's lives. That has shifted. |
| "The CATs have proved very popular. They offer a level of training that's extremely high, with top professionals involved. | "The CATs have proved very popular. They offer a level of training that's extremely high, with top professionals involved. |
| "It's a different environment and a different type of education to what was available before. It makes high-quality dance training available to young people who might not have had it before." | "It's a different environment and a different type of education to what was available before. It makes high-quality dance training available to young people who might not have had it before." |
| 'Best available' | 'Best available' |
| The officially commissioned Hall Review, published in January 2007, backed a nationwide roll-out of Centres for Advanced Training providing dance. | |
| In its response, the government said it would provide 11 by 2011. There are currently nine. | In its response, the government said it would provide 11 by 2011. There are currently nine. |
| In the response document, the government said: "The CATs provide children with local access to the best available teaching and facilities alongside strong links with the dance profession and higher level training. | In the response document, the government said: "The CATs provide children with local access to the best available teaching and facilities alongside strong links with the dance profession and higher level training. |
| "They provide opportunities, not previously available, to ensure that children who are talented and committed dancers have appropriate, specialist provision even if they do not choose to attend MDS specialist boarding schools." | "They provide opportunities, not previously available, to ensure that children who are talented and committed dancers have appropriate, specialist provision even if they do not choose to attend MDS specialist boarding schools." |
| It added that "the CATs are now making a real impact on improving access to provision for the most talented children, creating routes for progression that respond to the different needs of today's talented young people and laying the foundations for the future excellence and vitality of the artform. | It added that "the CATs are now making a real impact on improving access to provision for the most talented children, creating routes for progression that respond to the different needs of today's talented young people and laying the foundations for the future excellence and vitality of the artform. |
| "We will continue to support this initiative." | "We will continue to support this initiative." |
| 'Physical abuse' | 'Physical abuse' |
| The government has promised to maintain funding for Centres for Advanced Training with a combined budget this year of £5.8m for music and dance teaching. | |
| In addition, in 2008, it announced £5.5m funding for the Youth Dance England organisation to go into schools to promote dance. | |
| Money is in place to ensure future Billy Elliots do not have to travel hundreds of miles to realise their dream of becoming professional dancers. | Money is in place to ensure future Billy Elliots do not have to travel hundreds of miles to realise their dream of becoming professional dancers. |
| But his journey was cultural too - from a macho, impoverished background to a world seen as elitist and "cissy" by his own family. | But his journey was cultural too - from a macho, impoverished background to a world seen as elitist and "cissy" by his own family. |
| It's a shame that we've got so much talent out there that's going to waste Kenneth Tharp, choreographer | It's a shame that we've got so much talent out there that's going to waste Kenneth Tharp, choreographer |
| In a report in June last year, the Department for Children, Families and Schools, which has declined to comment on current progress for this article, suggested CATs were helping to change perceptions. | |
| A case study of one young man said: "Craig is the real 'Billy Elliot'. Living and attending school in Blyth [Northumberland], Craig has had to struggle to maintain his activities in dance facing verbal and occasional physical abuse from his peers. | A case study of one young man said: "Craig is the real 'Billy Elliot'. Living and attending school in Blyth [Northumberland], Craig has had to struggle to maintain his activities in dance facing verbal and occasional physical abuse from his peers. |
| "His passion for dance, along with his persevering character and outstanding talent, has led to a culture change, not only in his school, but in the Blyth community. | "His passion for dance, along with his persevering character and outstanding talent, has led to a culture change, not only in his school, but in the Blyth community. |
| "As a result of Craig's success within the Dance City CAT [in Newcastle], coupled with our outreach work and Foundation Programme, dance has become 'cool', with a much larger percentage of boys taking part." | "As a result of Craig's success within the Dance City CAT [in Newcastle], coupled with our outreach work and Foundation Programme, dance has become 'cool', with a much larger percentage of boys taking part." |
| Often, bravery is still required for a young man to take up ballet. | Often, bravery is still required for a young man to take up ballet. |
| Choreographer Kenneth Tharp is chief executive of The Place dance school in central London, which is part of the Centres for Advanced Training scheme. | Choreographer Kenneth Tharp is chief executive of The Place dance school in central London, which is part of the Centres for Advanced Training scheme. |
| 'Several talents' | 'Several talents' |
| He said: "It's been remarkably successful. We are seeing the first big systematic investment in dance. | He said: "It's been remarkably successful. We are seeing the first big systematic investment in dance. |
| "It's a shame that we've got so much talent out there that's going to waste." | "It's a shame that we've got so much talent out there that's going to waste." |
| He added: "Young people who have one talent often have another or several others. Someone who starts at a CAT might end up thinking that it's not the professional life for them. They could end up as a musician, a doctor, anything. | He added: "Young people who have one talent often have another or several others. Someone who starts at a CAT might end up thinking that it's not the professional life for them. They could end up as a musician, a doctor, anything. |
| "So it's better this way, where they have opportunities to do other things, rather than getting halfway through a full-time course, possibly away from home, and realising it's not for them." | "So it's better this way, where they have opportunities to do other things, rather than getting halfway through a full-time course, possibly away from home, and realising it's not for them." |
| Mr Tharp said: "The two key things we want are accessibility and excellence. It's not just for the highly talented, but everybody. We are trying to create pathways for young people. | Mr Tharp said: "The two key things we want are accessibility and excellence. It's not just for the highly talented, but everybody. We are trying to create pathways for young people. |
| "I always say that dance reaches the parts other things can't reach." | "I always say that dance reaches the parts other things can't reach." |
| But the true benchmark for this young scheme remains: a generation of dancers coming from places the artform could not previously reach. | But the true benchmark for this young scheme remains: a generation of dancers coming from places the artform could not previously reach. |
| Whatever happens, it should make this exchange between Billy Elliot and his father, shortly before the boy departs for the Royal Ballet School, less likely. | Whatever happens, it should make this exchange between Billy Elliot and his father, shortly before the boy departs for the Royal Ballet School, less likely. |
| Billy: I think I'm scared, Dad. | Billy: I think I'm scared, Dad. |
| Dad: That's okay, son. We're all scared. | Dad: That's okay, son. We're all scared. |
| Billy: Well... if I don't like it, can I still come back? | Billy: Well... if I don't like it, can I still come back? |
| Dad: Are you kidding? We've let out your room. | Dad: Are you kidding? We've let out your room. |
| Please add your comments on this pledge using the form below. A selection will be published later. | Please add your comments on this pledge using the form below. A selection will be published later. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |