Grandpa's Ballet Shoes

by Thea Barfoot

One sunny summer's day, Grandpa left his flat to go out for his early morning stroll. He was quietly singing "Can't Stop The Feeling" by Justin Timberlake, his favourite singer, when a poster caught his eye. It read "Learn to dance with Beryl". Sounds interesting he thought so he grabbed himself a leaflet. In all the excitement he didn't read the small print at the bottom it said "Beware ballet dancing included." As soon as he got home he signed up for the classes immediately.

The next morning as Grandpa prepared for his stroll, an orange limousine pulled up and a beautiful lady hopped out in a fancy black gown. She introduced herself as Beryl and invited Grandpa to join her for his first dance lesson. When they drew up outside the Guildhall, Grandpa was bubbling with excitement. Beryl started to teach old Grandpa ballet dancing (much to his surprise) but he was too polite to mention that he had a fear of ballet. Matters then got worse when Beryl brought out a little pink leotard, pink tights and a pink tutu but Grandpa just went along with it.

Many weeks passed but Grandpa wasn't getting any better. He had started aching in places he didn't know he even had muscles. But Grandpa was not that type of man that gave up, he was determined to carry on! Beryl gave one piece of advice to Grandpa "try your best".

Grandpa hoped that he would get into the very popular Guinness World Record Book for the oldest man in a pink tutu! That night Grandpa couldn't get to sleep. He was thinking about his big day ahead of him but eventually drifted off with his legs hanging out the side of his bed with his ballet shoes on.

A short while later, Grandpa woke up screaming, so scared of the day ahead of him. Grandpa speedily got dressed, ate breakfast and brushed his teeth, all before half past seven and that is very early! He leaped into the limo and before he could blink his eyes, he was at the Guildhall once again. Grandpa was performing his dainty dance first. He ran onto the ginormous stage in his little pink leotard and tutu. He started his dance when all of a sudden, the music broke out into frantic hip hop music! Grandpa ripped off his ballet costume and underneath them were baggy jeans and his purple every day t-shirt.

Grandpa successfully finished his performance and the crowd went nuts which got him thinking that maybe he could help more elderly people, like himself, get up and stretch their legs in ballet and hip hop dancing.

A couple of weeks later, Grandpa opened his own dance school for all the oldies called 'Kangeroo Pointy Toe', the best dance school ever! They are now world famous for their mixed dance styles and could be practising a surprise routine just for you. ENJOY!!