Alex Ko (29 page)

Doing arabesques in the White House hallways!

The whole family in California, May 2007

Acknowledgments

First of all, I would like to thank my family, who helped me throughout all the years to get me to where I am. I want to say a special thank-you—and I love you—to my mom, who has always supported me. I couldn’t have gone to New York and studied dance at Steps on Broadway if my brother John hadn’t worked at the Fareway grocery store to help the family and driven me to my lessons. My brother Matt is always there when I need someone to listen to me about my dreams. My grandma and grandpa have always been proud of me and done what they could. I want to say a special thank-you to Auntie Kristin, Uncle David, Ashleigh, and Alissa for always being supportive, and especially to Auntie Kristin for coming to assist my dad when we needed her in Iowa. Auntie Polly, Auntie Kitty, and Auntie Alicia were really helpful when they came to take care of my dad after the transplant, as were my cousins Emily, Pearl, and David. And Great-grandma, I wish you were still here to see me finish this book.

My dance teachers were so amazing and made this journey possible with the best dance training. I want to thank Michael Kohli from the National Dance Academy for teaching me and being my second mom when I was little. I want to give a big thank-you to Gretchen Steffen from the National Dance Academy for teaching me my very first solo, to “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.” I had the very best duet partner, Peyton McCoy, who made dancing so much fun at the competitions. At the Nolte Academy of Dance, I want to say thank you to Leslie Nolte, Grace Snider, and Tad Snider, who gave me the opportunity to perform in
The Nutcracker
, my first exposure to being in a real ballet. I want to thank Sarah and Eloy Barragan for putting me on a scholarship at City Ballet of Iowa. Eloy was the best ballet mentor and role model when I needed one right after my dad passed away. The tribute Eloy and I created for my dad is something I will treasure forever. I want to thank Marina Trouch and Patty Neuzil for the best costumes that could possibly be made.

My gymnastics coaches were amazing and taught me the value of perseverance, discipline, and being strong. I want to especially thank Dmitri Trouch for training me so well and coaching me to wins and championships. I want to thank Brad Virkler, Linas Gaveika, and Nabil Andrade for their great coaching as well.

I want to say a special thank-you to the best teacher ever, Debbie Wilson. She made me love to learn and helped me become the person I am today. Thank you to the Abdo family for their spiritual support, as well as All Nations Church, Pastor Lee, and Pastor Kung, for teaching us the power of faith and God.

Without Eloy and Michael I would never have been prepared for New York City. In New York, my teachers, Edward Ellison, Fabrice Herrault, Elena Kunikova, and Franco DeVita, helped me improve as an artist. I would not have been Billy on Broadway without the help of Ray Hesselink, Peter O’Brien, and Steps on Broadway, who gave me a scholarship to the summer program. My current ballet mentor, Wilhelm Burmann, is helping me continue with my dream to be the best dancer I can be, and I cannot thank him enough for believing that I could succeed.

Thank you to Brian Gendece, who was an amazing manager and was so supportive in the transition from Iowa to NYC. Thank you is not even enough for Kenny Ortega, who helped me with the many other aspects of being on Broadway. Kenny and his whole family—Dooba, Kyle, Ali, Markie, Shirl, and Manly—are my California family and have been helping me more than I could ever have imagined. And Kelly and Lou Gonda have been amazing and supportive to me and my whole family.

Thank you to Kate Dunn for teaching me to push myself more than I knew I could with my dancing; to Joan Lader for the amazing coaching for my singing; and to Ann Ratray for helping me to be an actor. I want to thank the other Billys I had a chance to work with: Trent, Kiril, David, Tommy, Liam, Dayton, Mike, Jacob, Peter, Joseph, Tade, and Giuseppe. The Billys were supportive of each other and the only others who really understood what it was like to play the role. And thank you to the rest of the
Billy Elliot
cast, guardians, and stage crew for making the show a great family. Without Jessica Scoblick, I would not have been able to perform with the many costume changes. Juliana Hannett helped me with my interviews and not getting nervous before I had to speak. Thank you to Ryan, Liz, Sarah, Suzanne, and Jen at PhysioArts for the best care; and to Dr. Mark Mysnyk, Dr. William Hamilton, and Dr. Phillip Bauman for help with my knees.

There have been many other people who have entered my life since
Billy Elliot
and have continued to support me in a big way, including Lea Salonga. The many dinners at Joe Allen with Farah Fath and John-Paul Lavoisier are some of my favorite memories.

For this book, in particular, I want to thank Charlotte Sheedy for believing in this boy from Iowa who wanted to write a book and taught me how to do the job. I couldn’t have had a better editor than Alyson Day at HarperCollins. And thank you to Hugh Ryan for his amazing insights.

As for someone who has done so much for me: I don’t know what to say to Stephen Daldry—for believing in me, changing my life, and supporting me in everything I do. You’ll be in my life forever.

Finally, I would like to thank my father, whose spirit inspires me to be the best person I can possibly be.

About the Author

A
lex Ko made his Broadway debut at age thirteen in the title role of Billy in the Tony Award–winning
Billy Elliot: The Musical
. Alex studied dance from the time he was five years old, and at the age of twelve he was the youngest student admitted to the University of Iowa Dance Department, where he received college credit with honors distinction. Alex was guided by ballet masters Eloy Barragán and George de la Peña in Iowa City and by Peter O’Brien and Wilhelm Burmann in New York City. Alex has had the distinct honor of being a guest dancer at the White House and has appeared on ABC Family’s
Bunheads
. Alex has won national and regional dance titles and is a USA gymnastics champion coached by 1996 Olympic gold medalist Dmitri Trouch. You can visit him online at www.alex-ko.com.

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Credits

Cover design by Tom Starace
Front cover head shot photo © by Laura Rose Photography
Top front cover photo © by Carol Rosegg

Copyright

Lyrics by Elton John and Lee Hall. Reprinted with permission from Universal Pictures Stage Productions and Working Title.

Alex Ko: From Iowa to Broadway, My
Billy Elliott
Story

Copyright © 2013 by Alex Ko

All interior photos courtesy of Alex Ko and family

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2013932626

ISBN 978-0-06-223601-2 (trade bdg.)
EPub Edition © MARCH 2013 ISBN: 9780062236067

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FIRST EDITION