Billy Elliot Essay Questions

Why does Jackie change his mind about Billy dancing?

When Jackie first learns that Billy has been taking dance classes, he is in a state of shock, and sees Billy's inclinations as indicating that there is something wrong with him. He has a violent response to his son's interest and forbids him from dancing, even though this is what Billy loves more than anything. Later, however, when he sees Billy dancing defiantly and passionately, his eyes are opened and he is confronted by how incredibly talented his son actually is. He sees that his son has something special that ought to be taken seriously, and changes his tune almost immediately.

Why is the dance sequence with Billy and his dance teacher so captivating and impactful?

The "I Love To Boogie" dance sequence is powerful and entertaining because it shows Billy and Sandra coming together in their teacher-student relationship and finding new ways of connecting. It also marks the moment that Billy becomes serious about dance, really taking his craft to the next level and taking his passion seriously. It is made all the more powerful by the fact that Sandra also seems to come alive in this montage, finally smiling and having fun, in contrast to her more sardonic qualities.

To see Sandra and Billy dance together is to witness the unifying quality that dance has in their lives, an intergenerational connection through art. Also, the use of music is funny in that it is anachronistic with the more formal dance style of ballet. "I Love to Boogie" is a T. Rex glam-rock song, and its playful, upbeat quality makes the montage powerful, heartwarming, and comic, all at once.

What is notable about Billy's relationship to his friend Michael?

Billy is perceived to be gay or effeminate because of his investment in ballet, but he is not gay. Meanwhile, his best friend, Michael, is gay and hiding his more subversive relationship to gender from the world. Billy is the only person who is privy to the fact that Michael crossdresses, and eventually learns that Michael has a crush on him. Rather than getting upset about his friend's sexuality, however, Billy embraces Michael, takes him to the gymnasium to teach him ballet, and helps him put on a tutu. Billy's sympathetic and nonjudgmental attitude towards his gay friend, even though he is in an exceedingly homophobic and skeptical community, is heartwarming, and shows us that Billy doesn't harbor the same prejudices that the older men in his life do.

Why do Sandra and Billy have such a chilly goodbye?

Sandra, as much as she believes in her star pupil, is conflicted about the fact that he does well in his audition and earns a place at the school. While it is everything she has ever wanted for him, when it actually happens, it makes her realize that he will be leaving her behind. Billy's talent gives Sandra a purpose while he is preparing for the audition, a way of escaping her own lack of fulfillment. When he leaves, she sees that she will have to go back to things as they were—will have to face her own discontentment. Rather than feel the emotion of this departure and the pain of the abandonment, she is terse and brusque, making the transition easier for herself.

What about Billy's speech at the audition catches the attention of the judges?

Even though Billy's violent behavior at the audition seems like it may crush his chances of getting into the school, at the tail end of his meeting with the judges, one of them asks him what it feels like to dance. This activates something in Billy, gets him in touch with his own passion, and he is able to speak honestly about what it is he loves about dancing, the visceral effect it has on his body, and the way it makes him feel like he is able to disappear and become one with the music. The most memorable part of his impassioned speech is when he tells the judges that dancing feels like "electricity," a very vivid description of what is so intoxicating about his relationship to dance.