Help me find a book! Boy, ballet, grumpy dad... NOT Billy Elliott

[GrotchCoblin]

It's a book about a boy who starts learning acrobatics from a man when he's very little, I think it was a family friend or an employee. Possibly called Mario? Definitely non English although the boy is English and I think the story is set in England.

Then later he goes to take ballet and falls in love with it. But his dad finds out and is super angry and embarrassed. Then the dad goes to watch him practice and is amazed at how powerful and strong the boy is.

There's also a mum, and possibly some sisters.

It's NOT Billy Elliott.

I have searched on Amazon, good reads etc... I'm usually really good at finding books but I just can't.

At the end the boy grows up and is a really great dancer and his dad is proud of him.

The book is "Thursday's Child". The little boy is Doone Penny. Can't remember the author. I loved it as a child and passed my copy onto my tap-dancing son.

Thursday’s Children by Rumer Godden?

There's also Ballet Boy, it sounds very similar, complete with disapproving father:

Yes!! Thursday's Children. Thank you both. In my search I came across many other books that sound excellent, including Mao's Last Dancer. First to re-read little Doone's story though! Every few years I suddenly remember a book from my childhood and yearn to re-read it.

Ballet Boy looks good also ghislaine!