Student with Asperger's Syndrome dances lead in 'Nutcracker'

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Ballet student diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome dances way to 'Nutcracker' role

By: Taylor Vinson

Tampa, Fla. - David Turnell is thrilled with his next ballet dancing role. He's going to play the part of the Snow King, at the Next Generation Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker," December 7 and 8 at the Straz Center in Tampa.

"It will be a lot of fun," said Turnell.

The major role is a big milestone for 19-year-old Turnell, who hopes to eventually land a full-time position with a ballet company.

When Turnell was young, he was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism. He said he had trouble speaking until he was about 6 years old.

As for ballet, Turnell didn't even begin learning about dance until he was 15.


Read more plus video here: http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/l ... z2lhvoUinU

Good for David!

(Now, I wasn't crazy about the newcast using the phrase "overcomes autism." But that's okay. Perhaps some of the ways in which he concentrates are because he does have autism. Like two sides of a coin, both positive and negative. It's probably more remarkable that he's only been dancing ballet for the last four years or so.)

I also don't care for the phrase "overcomes autism", but good on him! I hope to read more positive stories like this in the future. A positive phrase would be "uses his autsim to his advantage".