County Durham, England, 1984. The miners' strike has started and the police have started coming up from Bethnal Green, starting a class war with the lower classes suffering. Caught in the middle of the conflict is 11-year old Billy Elliot, who, after leaving his boxing club for the day, stumbles upon a ballet class and finds out that he's naturally talented. He practices with his teacher Mrs. Wilkinson for an upcoming audition in Newcastle-upon Tyne for the royal Ballet school in London.
Billy Elliot
dancing, friendship, dreams, dancing class, northern england, workers' quarter, strike, small person, homophobia, hope, mentor, sadness, socialism, youngster, letter, ballet dancer, street riots, coming of age, ballet, young boy, cross dressing, crying, single father, audition, dance class, retrospective, lgbt, revolt, ballet school, emotional vulnerability, helping children, smart kid, street kid, dance teacher, 1980s, miners strike, father son relationship, 80s throwback, ballet dancing, gay theme, late 20th century, teen playing kid, ya, generational divide, celebratory