Well, hello there! Yes, it’s been about 10 years since you’ve heard from me on this blog. I haven’t stopped writing. But life goes on and with the Billy Elliot days behind us, I moved on. And so did Noah.
He’s now a soloist at The National Ballet of Canada, and has built a life for himself in Toronto. 🇨🇦
But why am I writing here NOW? Because….Last weekend something special happened. So special that it was worth reviving this old blog and sharing this good news with all of you.
Noah performed for Elton John at the Glenn Gould Award Gala in Toronto
The gala honored Sir Elton John for his lifetime achievement in the arts and humanitarian endeavors.
It was the honor of a lifetime for Noah to perform with Canadian greats like Sarah McLachlan and Diana Krall. Of course, I couldn’t miss it. So, to Toronto I went!
As the lights dimmed and I sat in the audience, tears welled up in my eyes long before Noah took the stage. I thought back to the endless nights I spent in theaters around the country and in Canada, watching Noah light up the stage at Billy Elliot. I also reflected on his seven years in Canada with the National Ballet, and how much he’s grown as a dancer, performer and human being.
I literally held my breath when the gala host and TV star Eric McCormack introduced Noah, saying he began his career when he was 12 years old as Billy Elliot. My now 27-year-old son took his position on stage along with a chair, reminiscent of his Billy Elliot days.
The music started. Electricity. A song embedded in my soul.
With Robyn Black on vocals, Noah gracefully danced across that stage—navigating space with the baby grand piano and band, set up for all the vocalists.
It was a small space but Noah was larger than life. No longer a child actor/dancer/singer but a master of his craft.
More importantly, he dances with such powerful emotion. Hard not to cry and smile at the same time.
Noah started dancing as soon as he could walk.
He moved to music, no matter where that music was—grocery store aisles, elevators, well, anywhere. He didn’t start his formal dance education until he was seven but by then it was clear: Dance and music gave him life. And whenever and wherever he danced, he gave life to those watching.
It’s one thing to dance. It’s another to move audiences. Noah does both.
In front of Elton John, his husband David Furnish, and 4,000 other audience members and Elton John fans, Noah did it again: He gave voice to emotions, through the art of dance.
If anyone reading this lives in Toronto or travels to Toronto, go see Noah dance with The National Ballet of Canada! You will remember, your body will remember….what it feels like to feel.
Noah’s final moment on stage in front of Elton John
As a mom, I am so proud of Noah. Proud that he found something that makes him happy. Proud that he never gave up on his dreams. Proud of the kind, caring young man he is.
Thinking back to those Billy Elliot days, while they were mostly wonderful, this was also a very hard period in my life. Giving up your day-to-day life to go on tour for a year isn’t easy, and it took a toll on my health. I am now in the process of writing a book about the power of your own breath. If it weren’t for my breath, I’m not sure how I would have handled this time away. However, it was all worth it. Without that Billy Elliot year, I’m not sure Noah would have continued down the path of profession dance.
The world would have missed out. And that would have been a shame.
So, thank you Billy Elliot. Thank you Elton John. Thank you dance aficionados and fans everywhere.
Ballet matters. That much I know. And I have a feeling you know, too.
Thanks for reading!
P.S. – I’m not on this blog much anymore BUT I would love it if you continued to follow me and my writing at Substack, which I just set up 30 minutes ago. All you have to do is subscribe/follow here: https://robynwritesom.substack.com/subscribe OR here. I’ll be posting more tales about Noah, his career as well as essays and excerpts from my book (and hint: there’s a section on our Billy Elliot days!) I appreciate you all and look forward to staying in touch on Substack !
Away from Om: Tales from the Road 