WHEN Wade Neilsen decided to audition for Billy Elliot the Musical he thought it would be good practice.
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"It was just to have a bit of an experience for if I wanted to do shows in the future," Wade, 12, said.
"I'd seen the movie before and loved how it looked, how he danced, the style of it."
The year seven student from Edgeworth impressed producers so much he has been cast in the lead role, which he will share with Omar Abiad, River Mardesic and Jamie Rogers from when the show opens in Sydney on October 10 through the next year in Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane.
"It was amazing," he said. "I was pretty shocked when I found out. They're really good people to work with.
"I'm really excited [about preparing for opening night] and a bit nervous when it comes to the start of shows."
Wade said if he feels butterflies he does "a couple of breathing exercises to get my focus back".
Wade started dancing when he was five at Susan Shiner Dance Academy.
"We were driving one day and... Mum asked 'Would you like to have a try?'" he said. "I said 'Yeah sure'.
"She put me into a [tap] class and I loved it."
Wade soon added ballet, hip hop, modern and most recently acro - which combines classical dance technique with acrobatic elements - to his repertoire and would spend about five hours at the studio each week.
"I feel free and forget everything - I like the movement."
He started Billy Elliot rehearsals in Sydney last week and will continue his schooling on the road.
"They've been pretty long days and quite fun as well, it's a lot of tap and different styles and drama and singing.
"It's been alright, been a little bit difficult, but fun."