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Tanner, 10, lightly treads beaten path into ballet

In his second year of gracing the studio of the ballet class, 10-year-old Tanner March doesnt look an inch out of place.

In his second year of gracing the studio of the ballet class, 10-year-old Tanner March doesnt look an inch out of place.

He might be the only boy in his class, but since the inception and subsequent popularity of TV shows such as So You Think You Can Dance, the days of snickers and surprise at males in tight pants and featherweight slippers are long gone.

Indeed, Tanner whos been at the Urban Dance Company since he was six has yet to hear one negative comment or jibe about his love of ballet.

Hes been in a girls world for many years now, its not that big of a deal any more, said his proud mom, Janice.

At the beginning, he didnt take any convincing. When he was told it would be good for his overall technique, he basically looked at the schedule and took the initiative. We didnt have any further discussion.

As for teasing, theres none that I know of, but it is part of growing up, I guess, and hes a confident enough boy to handle it, I think.

Like Graham Kaplan, who started out at Urban Dance aged nine, Tanner eased into ballet via the hip-hop, tap and jazz genres.

Such a route into ballet is now a well-trodden path for boys, more of whom are realizing the graceful discipline provides a solid foundation for a career in dance.

Even still, strapping on his ballet shoes a couple of times a week is not something he routinely discusses with his Grade 5 classmates at Brighouse elementary.

If he dances at school, its normally tap and hip-hop, March added.

He has eight classes a week for all different genres, each lasting for an hour.

But he would spend every waking hour in the studio if he could. Once he went into the studio for his first ballet class, he loved it.

It was a bigger leap to ballet as theres still a kind of stereotype that might lead to boys getting made fun of.

As for following in the footsteps of Kaplan, Tanner isnt quite sure and is just reveling in his love of all things dance.

Were not sure which direction hell take, he definitely loves dance and loves the challenge, said his mom.