He's wowed audiences for years as the Prince in Pittsburgh Ballet Theater's "The Nutcracker." He has performed in the ballet renditions of "Giselle" and "Mighty Casey," and had local fans yelling for more in Burrell's musical, "The Music Man." In September 2001, he also performed nightly in front of 18,000 people at the Hollywood Bowl. Currently, he is rehearsing for the ballet theater's "Don Quixote." What's amazing is Asher Saperstein is a mere 11 years old. Asher does all of this plus keeps good grades, plays hockey for the Pittsburgh Amateur Penguins, and is an accomplished drummer. He is not your normal fifth-grader by any standard. The Sapersteins run their household like a well-oiled machine. Greg and Lisa share a successful podiatry practice in Lower Burrell, take their children to school events and Brownies and drive Asher and his sisters to ballet rehearsal sometimes seven days per week. "My oven is set on a timer to start dinner so it is ready to go when the kids get home from school," Dr. Lisa Watters Saperstein said. "They usually eat in the car and do their homework on the way to and from practice." There is little time for anyone in this family to lounge around, watch television or play video games. Asher's outgoing personality and showmanship seem to come naturally. "For anyone who has known him since he was little, it's no surprise," Saperstein said. "He used to get up on the table and sing and dance for anyone who would listen." Asher loves the attention, and admits that his favorite part of performing is hearing the audience applause. "It's a lot of fun," Asher said. "I was really nervous at the Hollywood Bowl, but I love when people clap." Asher doesn't worry when he is going out on stage. He just tries to concentrate on what he's doing and doesn't think about anything else. He aspires to be a famous ballet dancer when he gets older. Asher started ballet when he was 4. He used to attend his older sister Olivia's practices and took an interest in it. When Lisa asked her husband about putting Asher in classes, too, he joked that he would only if it helped his son's hockey skills. Asher used to be subjected to a lot of ridicule when other children found out about his ballet dancing, but not anymore. "When kids see me stretch in gym and see what I can do, they say they want to take ballet, too," he said. Lisa Saperstein said having her son in the spotlight has become second nature. "It's exciting to see the kids on stage (all of her children have been in the Nutcracker)," she said. "You get used to certain things, and other things surprise you." She was surprised to hear that her son was so popular for his performances in a variety of shows in the area. One of her favorite performances was Asher's recent in the District Elementary Honors Band Festival. He was chosen along with several other children to represent Burrell School District. Asher approaches everything he does with the same sort of simplicity as his performances on stage. He knows what he wants to do and sets out to do it. There is nothing that will stop him when he sets his mind to it, his mother said. Asher started ice skating when he was 2, and at 4, he was already playing hockey. He is a skilled defenseman. This youngster reaches for the stars in every aspect of his life, and he has only just begun.

Asher Saperstein

Age: 11. Hometown: Lower Burrell. Family: Parents, Dr. Greg Saperstein and Dr. Lisa Watters Saperstein; sisters, Olivia, 14, and Micaela, 8. Favorite thing about living in the Valley: His friends. Motto for the Valley: "Live your dreams."

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