Rasta Thomas - 1998

July 28, 1998

Introduction

Can Rasta Thomas do for ballet what Olga Korbut did for gymnastics – spark a new generation into rapturous love for a modestly respected endeavor? Some say so.

But his flashy style and confounding appeal spur detractors to call him a splat on the classical landscape.

Ballerina X calls Rasta a human trilogy:

"One moment he's a teenager – boundless enthusiasm, dreams of dancers ruling the world.

"Another moment he's a mature, hyperbolic gentleman – testimony to the culture of royal Arab ancestors.

"Then, when I look past the backs of his eyes, he's very old and wise – uncannily at peace – despite the bedazzled butterflies that blur in a flurry around him."

Innuendo and rumor surround this 17-year-old American dance phenomenon. There are those who claim:

• He lies about his age, not getting older the last 5 years.
• He uses fake passports to cheat his way into contests.
• He punches out rivals at dance competitions.
• Temper tantrums get him fired from jobs.
• He is a disgrace to "pe-yuuuuuure" classical dance.

These are just the highlights.

A New York Times reporter (Bruce Weber, June 30, 1998), exposed the big secret —  that Rasta "doesn't even want to be a dancer"  — and instead —  "he intends to be the next Hollywood action hero."

Hmmm.

On a hot, humid Tuesday morning, Rasta returned my phone call.

"Where are you?" I asked.

"I'm in Dallas — in a phone booth."

It was obvious — the kid must really be Superman.

Background

To get some facts before I talked to Rasta, I spoke to his father, Dan Thomas, an East Coast medical doctor.

He told me that his son was born July 18, 1981 at the San Francisco Medical Center. His birth certificate is on file at the hospital if anyone wants to check. He turned 17 this month.

The name "Rasta" is derived from a pre-Islamic term meaning "head" or "head of the family." Other translations can be "chieftain" or "prince." (The Islamic counterpart is the more familiar "Amir.")

"Rasta" was a second choice. His father wanted to call the boy D'Artagnan, but Mrs. Thomas refused to be mother to Captain of the Three Musketeers.

And the kid's last name is not really "Thomas." His birth certificate says "Rasta Kuzma Ramacandra" (the "c" pronounced like "ch") — the original family name.

"Thomas" was adopted by Rasta's grandparents out of self-defense. They emigrated to the U.S. in 1933 — from Saudi Arabia to Galveston, Texas.

Neighbors became hostile toward the newly arrived Moslems and burned down their house.

To save their bloodline, the Ramacandra family became the "Thomas" family — the new name chosen because it sounded nice. They began attending Christian church services, hoping to avoid further wrath.

Just after Rasta's first birthday, he was in a jeep accident. He smashed 2 ribs, broke one of his legs in 5 places, and received a serious head concussion.

Doctors said he might never walk again, that if he did, he would always hobble. In fact, the leg healed improperly so that it extended out of the hip socket at an odd angle.

However, Mr. Thomas would not accept the unfavorable prognosis. He got Rasta intensive physical therapy and then, when the boy was 3 years old, put him in martial arts classes. The kid walked funny but learned to kick and jump around.

At age 7 Rasta still had a quirky limp, though he was an athletic prodigy.

Soon ballet was added to the mix, but not because of any high-minded, artistic vision.

Part 2 — The Interview