I spent a few days last week working with Stefan Arriscorreta, a 13-year-old who is an avid ballet dancer, for my Monday close up. Stefan got into ballet in a somewhat roundabout way – his mom thought a dance technique class would improve his posture a few years ago, and he reluctantly agreed to try it, neither of them realizing the class would be a ballet one. But he has since completely fallen in love with it, and hopes to continue dancing in college and possibly even going on to dance professionally.  

Stefan is the only boy in all of his ballet classes, but he has no qualms about it. He loves being original, he says, and it makes him feel special to be the only boy in a roomful of girls.

Watching him dance during class, I was so impressed with the way he held his own. He takes ballet seriously, that was clear, and has little patience for the stigma associated with boys who do ballet. But he has a great sense of humor, and finds it amusing that people should question his love for ballet.

Stefan’s self-confidence blew me away, and he may have been the most articulate 13-year-old I’ve met.

You can read his story Here.