As dancers ready to exchange their pointe shoes for summer flips, some toes are better left tapping. Such is the case for Braedon Boyd. The 10-year-old Grade 4 Cochrane Christian Academy student has feet that won't quit - and they have earned him some stage time in pretty big productions, including last weekend's Sleeping Beauty by the Jeunesse Classique Ballet through the International School of Ballet and the last two Nutcracker runs at the Jubilee Auditorium. "I've literally seen him eat breakfast in the splits," laughed mom, Amber Boyd, who revels that both Braedon and his 14-year-old sister, Trinity, are obsessed with dance - as neither she or her husband are dancers. "He totally accidentally fell into dance," said Amber, explaining that when Braedon was three years old, she had him in a daycare program that included a ballet class component. While this initially triggered her young son's flavour for fast moving feet, what really got him started was when sister Trinity was taking part in a new dance program and Braedon would tag along. The instructor offered for him to join his sister in rehearsals and from then on, he was hooked. Braedon does modern, ballet and jazz dancing through the Alberta School of Ballet. His favourite time to shine is performing in duet-style on stage. "It's just me and a partner and we get the whole stage to ourselves," said Braedon, who said he loves dance because "I get to share my passion with people and learn new things." And Braedon is not alone - he was joined in Sleeping Beauty with fellow Cochranite sisters 12-year-old Jade and 10-year-old Eden King. The sisters dance at Eurhythmics Dance Studios and are still reeling from the excitement of last weekend. "We are super proud ... it's been a great experience for them, really positive," said Janis King, mom to 1Eden girls - both who dance at Eurhythmics. "We are really grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the production." Braedon, who admits he likes getting to play a bit of hooky from school during performance season, will take part in an intensive summer dance program, as well as private lessons this summer.
