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'Rock the Ballet' mastermind on rivals and 'Billy Elliot'

The entertainment industry seems to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the global economic crisis. Plays, musicals and various light entertainment shows are played to sold out crowds everywhere in Europe as people seem to save money elsewhere but go out to have a good time as before.

"Rock the Ballet", which will be performed at Vienna�s Museumsquartier next week, seems to be a show like many others on first glance � a point of view its creative mastermind Rasta Thomas, naturally, vehemently disagrees with.

Speaking to the Austrian Times, the outspoken former ballet wunderkind claimed he would not be surprised if many of the currently touring music and theatre performance shows would fail.

"Shows that are smart and care about their audience will prevail in these times. People want to take their minds off their day to day problems � anyone who puts on a good show which has a soul can succeed. But those doing art for selfish reasons will fail," the 28-year-old said.

"Rock the Ballet" is currently touring Europe after drawing crowds across America in 2008. Thomas said he hoped that the show � which features the music of all-time heroes like U2, Michael Jackson, and Queen � would attract a young audience.

He said: "It has been going great so far in Europe. The show is appreciated internationally equally, I have to say. I see we did a good job. But I�m never fully satisfied with our performance. The nature of being a dancer is to always be a perfectionist."

Thomas, who is based in Baltimore, Maryland, created the show with members of his own company, the "Bad Boys of Dance".

"I don�t deny that the topic [of �Rock the Ballet�] is just fun. I�m not against shows with a serious subject, but I thought there was enough serious dancing in the world. I found right now�s the right time for some more excitement and new vitality," he explained.

Thomas started dancing at the age of seven.

"I used to lie about my age," he revealed. "Taking part in dance competitions for talented children and teenagers, I claimed to be a few years older than I really was to be allowed to take part. I was what you call a wunderkind."

Thomas said he is on stage himself in the current show most nights � if his body is not too battered by years of punishing daily training.

"Sprained ankles and pulled muscles are probably the most common injuries ballet dancers are confronted with. But we are in great shape. Stretching properly and getting massages is essential," he said.

The music and entertainment industry has always been accused of having turned into a modern form of slavery.

Asked what he thought about such claims, Thomas said: "It�s a thing of free will. Everybody can do what they want to do. No young person is forced to work in this industry.

"I�d say I�m one of the nicer bosses. With �Rock the Ballet�, dancers aged between 18 and 24 are offered a wonderful experience. They travel the world and see France, Spain and Germany.

"We have a small team of dancers as we take turns now and then because performing this show is very exhausting. But there are just seven dancers on stage. It�s a production they are a star in.

"It�s not a show with 50 dancers where no one knows your name. It�s their decision, and I have no sympathy for anyone with delusions in these shows."

Thomas said he used to have "the kind of selfish attitude you need to have to survive in the business". But things have changed after setting up his own dancing company.

"I consider my company as an extended family. It�s not just about me anymore. There are 10 to 16 people I�m worried about. Living for my company plays a big part for me now as I want to give everyone in it some kind of job security," he said.

Asked what the reason was he eventually succeeded, Thomas said: "I always had a vision and a dream. That�s what is needed to achieve great things."

It seems little surprise that Thomas names Michael Jackson as his childhood hero. But the father-of-one stressed he has also always admired boxing champion Muhammad Ali and Kung Fu movie legend Bruce Lee as well as basketball star Kobe Bryant and number one tennis player Roger Federer.

"People like Bryant and Federer always seem to dance when they are on the court, don�t they? They have so much grace," he says in an awestruck voice.

Thomas said he was looking forward to returning to Vienna next week after having performed at a charity gala last year.

"I remember Vienna as a majestic city with breathtaking architecture. The food was great too," he said, laughing.

Thomas said the main aim of "Rock the Ballet" was for people to have a good time. But he explained he also hoped to wipe away the cobwebs spanning on the image ballet had today.

He said: "I would like to change people�s minds about ballet. I want to prove ballet must not be boring. I know many people think that way."

Makers of 2000 British hit movie "Billy Elliot" probably had the same ambition.

One might think Thomas disagrees with the film�s bid to please a mainstream crowd with a tear-jerking plot.

But he said: "I love �Billy Elliot�! It�s a lovely happy ending story. And there is truth in it. We all love these heroic stories of someone from one side making it to the other, don�t we?

"We all know that fairytales still come true � not always but sometimes. We hope that our own fairytale comes true one day. That�s what keeps us exciting."

- - -

"Rock the Ballet" will be performed at the Museumsquartier in Vienna between 2 and 7 March. Got to www.oeticket.com for tickets.

Austrian Times

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