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Noah Parets has happy feet – Metro US

Noah Parets has happy feet

Thirteen-year-old Noah Parets works longer hours than the vast majority of adults. While training for his title role in “Billy Elliot” the musical, he was at it from nine to five, six days a week. Plus school!

“I took ballet classes, acting classes, singing classes. I also practiced dancing the choreography from the show,”?he says. “Then, from six to nine, I’d do school.”

Parets, who lives locally in the town of Sharon, when he’s not on the road, had his stage debut on July 1. Though he’s no stranger to performing — in 2011, he won the prestigious American Dance Awards’ Junior Male Dancer of the Year award — he had no acting experience before joining the “Billy Elliot” cast.

“Acting is probably the most challenging for me right now,” says Parets. “Dancing is the most fun part.”

Unlike Billy Elliot, an English boy who wants to dance instead of box, despite discouragement from his father, Parets has always had support from his family to pursue his dreams.

“I was always dancing around the house,” Parets explains. “‘Happy Feet’ the movie intrigued me to tap dance, so my mom signed me up for a class.”

Parets will perform twice a week in Boston, and be on stand-by for the other boys who play Billy. He’ll have daily rehearsals and physical therapy, but he says there will be enough “down-time” to enjoy being home.

If you go

‘Billy Elliot’

Through Aug. 19

Boston Opera House

539 Washington St., Boston

$43-$127, 617-259-3400

www.broadwayinboston.com