Dylan's Peter and the Wolf Ballet

DYLAN'S PETER AND THE WOLF BALLET

    Dylan is a 14 year old boy with autism. He loves many things - his family, classical music, trains, space and rockets. One of his favorite things is ballet. And his fovorite ballet is Peter and the Wolf.
    Dylan was 5 years old when he first heard Peter and the Wolf. He always dreamed of dancing the role of Peter. He's watched so many performances live and. on You Tube. He dances the role of Peter many, many  times alone at home.
    Dylan has studied ballet for four years at Moves and Motions Dance Studio in Manhasset, NY. The studio has most generously offered to help put on a production of Peter and the Wolf so that Dylan's dream can come true. One of the teachers is choreographing the ballet. Other dance students are volunteering their time to participate in the performance.
We need money to rent a theater, purchase or make (minimal) costumes, create the backdrops, and print playbills. If there are any funds remaining once the show costs have been met, Dylan would like to donate them to help start a dance class for other children with special needs. 
    The performance is March 8, 2017. We need to raise money as soon as possible so that we can begin work on scenery and costumes.
    Helping Dylan to achieve this dream means far more than simply dancing a lead role. It shows Dylan - and a great many other people - that a teenager with autism can accomplish anything with enough determination, and the support of their community.
    There have been too many sad stories in the news about kids with special needs getting hurt by people around them. We want to show some of the amazing things that can happen for kids like Dylan.  We are blessed to have so many incredible people in his life.
    Dylan is a strong presence  in every aspect of the production. He has watched so many different versions that he knows how to solve technical production problems. He knows how he wants to present his character.        
Seeing a child with autism communicating complex ideas and negotiating with the choreographer and other dancers is every parent's dream.  
    Fulfilling  his dream of performing Peter will hopefully help Dylan pursue other dreams that people with autism are never encouraged to consider. Dylan has thought about  being an orchestra conductor, or possibly creating children's cartoons when he grows up. These are not careers that kids with autism are exposed to as part of their education. We want to see art used to broaden the lives of people with autism as it has for Dylan.