Enzo Francisco was approved in the first stage of the selection process at the Bolshoi Theater School and dreams of dancing professionally
Even though he was so small, 9-year-old Enzo Francisco Campos da Silva had to make an important decision and choose between pursuing his dream of joining the Bolshoi Theater School in Brazil or continuing with his horse Thunder. With the money he was able to travel from Sarapuí (SP), where he lives with his parents and sister, to Joinville (SC), where he will perform this Friday, 24th, for the final phase of the selection.
Receive the main news directly on WhatsApp! Subscribe to the Terra channel
“I almost cried. My mother talked to me a lot, my sister too. But, between the Bolshoi and the horse, I chose the Bolshoi. For me he is my best friend. He relaxes me, he smells me, he lets me ride. He is faithful only to me”, the boy told the Earth.
His mother, Maria de Fátima Campos da Silva, a nursing technician from the Mobile Emergency Assistance Service (Samu), says they managed to raise funds for the trip by selling the animal for R$2,000 and also through raffles. Family and friends also contributed to the fundraising, all to make the little dancer’s dream come true.
Love for dance
The passion for dance runs in the family. Enzo grew up watching his older sister, Élen Maria, take sports lessons and he wanted to do it too. But, apparently, it was their mother who passed on the love of ballet to both of them.
“When I was pregnant, I liked to dance. I really danced at home, to relax, because it’s good for the soul, for the heart. As soon as he was born, I said: ‘I want to see if the baby really feels what his mother feels, because if he does, he will like dancing. It’s not that he really likes dancing,'” reflects Maria de Fátima.
He started practicing at the age of 4, inspired by his sister. In fact, it was his teacher who saw his talent and encouraged his parents to take him to class. Since then, it has never stopped.
“Enzo is quite agitated, he likes a lot of music, he always dances and is not ashamed. Sometimes, if he passes somewhere and hears some music, be it on the street, at the shopping center or anywhere, he starts dancing”, says his mother.
Today he practices classical dance and has already participated in two competitions, where he placed third. But not everything is rosy, as when she started dancing, she started to suffer some bullying. Some classmates at school said that “ballet is not for boys”, and he once even asked to leave school. However, both his father, truck driver Roberto Pires da Silva, and his mother managed to convince him to follow his dream.
After pushing so hard, she is now vying for a place in the mainstream ballet school. He defines dance as synonymous with freedom and lightness. “When I dance it calms me. I fly in the air, like a feeling that transports me,” he explains.
Bolshoi
It was Enzo’s ballet teacher who introduced the Bolshoi to the family, saying that it would be possible for him to apply for a position, since he saw potential in him. This year a pre-selection took place in the city where he lives and, much to the family’s enthusiasm, the youngest managed to qualify for the final stage of the selection.
That’s when the race against time to raise money and travel to Joinville began. With pain in their hearts, they decided to sell Thunder. “Wow, he loves this horse so much. It’s what distracts him, but we talked and he understood,” explains the mother. Luckily the animal was sold to Maria de Fátima’s brother and they are already thinking of buying it back later. “We will work harder and harder, twice as hard so as not to run out of strength,” he reiterates.
The family has already arrived in Joinville and is anxiously waiting for him to pass his physical evaluation on Friday. If he is selected, he will take a dance test on Saturday 25th and will know whether he will be at the Bolshoi or not. For the family, Enzo’s participation is a source of pride.
“I’m very happy and very proud of Enzo. We’re rooting for him to make it. If it’s for his good and our family’s, let everything work out,” he concludes.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
