Sergei plays a disabled boy with a crutch who befriends the whale. Playing disabled isn’t a stretch for the fifth-grader, who was born with bladder exstrophy (a condition where his bladder was on the outside and had to be surgically corrected) and suffers from nearly chronic kidney and bladder stones, attention deficit disorder and chronic renal failure. Being upfront about having disabilities, however, wasn’t a part of his cultural background.
Sergei was born in Russia and lived in different orphanages until he was adopted at age 7 by Huntington Beach’s Belles-Silcock family.
In Russia, people with disabilities are excluded, said Ann Belles, Sergei’s mother. Now, Sergei is performing with Bethune Theatredanse, which has a performance program specifically for disabled and at-risk children called Infinite Dreams. The show has been good for his self-esteem, Belles said.
The program was founded by Zina Bethune, a professional dancer, actor and singer with a number of disabilities of her own. Bethune said she has always had a “foot in both worlds,” so it was important to her to give disabled students a chance to experience and express themselves through art.
“Everyone has a spirit, and the spirit’s not disabled,” Bethune said.
Bethune found Sergei through a casting agent. She said he has been a “bundle of fun” to work with. “He’s just done wonderful. He’s smart as a whip,” Bethune said.
The performance will run at 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday at the Glendale Community College Theatre at 1500 N. Verdugo Road in Glendale. Tickets are $35 and can be bought at www.brownpapertickets.com.
