Gillian is a seven-year-old girl who struggles to sit still in school. She constantly gets up, gets distracted, and daydreams, making it challenging to follow lessons. Her teachers worry about her behaviour, often punishing and scolding her while rewarding the rare moments when she is attentive. Unfortunately, nothing seems to work; Gillian can not stay seated or focused.
When she returns home, her mother punishes her for her poor school performance. As a result, Gillian faces both bad grades and discipline, leaving her feeling overwhelmed.
One day, Gillian’s mother is called to the school for a meeting. She takes Gillian’s hand with a heavy heart and heads to the interview room. The teachers discuss the possibility of an illness or a disorder, suggesting she may have hyperactivity or need medication.
During the meeting, an old teacher who knows Gillian arrives. He asks the adults—her mother and the other teachers—to follow him into an adjoining room where Gillian can still be seen. Before leaving, he reassures Gillian that they will return soon and turns on an old radio that begins to play music.
As soon as she is alone in the room, Gillian gets up and starts to move. She dances to the music, lost in her own world, her heart and feet responding joyfully to the rhythm. The teacher smiles as he observes the scene, while the others look on with confusion and concern, a typical reaction to something they don’t understand. He then states, “See? Gillian is not sick; she is a dancer!”
He suggests that her mother enrol her in a dance class and encourages her teachers to occasionally incorporate dance into the classroom. After attending her first dance lesson, Gillian comes home excited and tells her mother, “Everyone is like me; no one can sit still!”
In 1981, after a successful career as a dancer, Gillian Lynne opened her own dance academy and received international recognition for her artistry. She eventually became the choreographer for the musical “Cats.”
It is hoped that all “different” children will encounter adults who appreciate them for who they are, rather than focusing on their challenges.
Long live the differences, the little black sheep, and the misunderstood. They are the ones who bring beauty into the world.
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