Philadelphia Best

When He Needs Advice, a Philadelphia Flyer Turns to His Brother the Dancer
Even though he’s doing something completely opposite of what you’re doing, he’ll understand
what you’re going through right now.’ That has been helpful for Keaton.”
Those conversations proved invaluable for the brothers whenever they encountered inevitable career disappointments, whether
it was being assigned to the Flyers’ minor league affiliate or being relegated to the second company at the Houston Ballet.
A first-year company dancer with the Atlanta Ballet, Keaton Leier, 21, had already been training 10 hours a day, five
days a week, for more than a month by the time his older brother reported to the Flyers’ training camp in September.
When Taylor left home at 17 to play junior hockey with the Portland Winterhawks in Oregon, he was unknowingly
establishing a precedent for his brother, who at 17 left home to train at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School.
On one particularly hectic day, Cindy Leier said she attended a dance competition with Keaton in Edmonton, Alberta, before
having to rush back home to Saskatoon, a drive of more than 300 miles, to attend Taylor’s hockey awards banquet.
“That’s how strong he is in his lower body.”
After he performed with the second company at the Houston Ballet last year, Keaton Leier’s move to Atlanta is a major promotion.
During the long drive home, she received word that Keaton had received the competition’s
top accolade, an honor that included a trip to a Los Angeles dance studio.

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