Adult Ballet Dancers

There is nothing easy about ballet, that's how the adage goes. Except that ballet is easy to love! It does not matter whether you're nineteen years old or forty-three, or if you spend your balletic time in the audience, on the stage or solely in the classroom. Or if you're really lucky, in all of the above! Ballet is seriously addictive, and it can hook you from the first count to eight. Just like that. Plié into the floor, and leave your troubles behind the class-room door. Dance not only sculpts your body, it feeds your brain - mind and soul alike.

Yes, ballet is hard, and it presents a constant challenge. But that's the way we like it! I'm going to do something slightly embarrassing and quote myself:

"If ballet were any easier, where would the challenge and the fun be? Sure, at times it's frustrating. Pirouettes come and go, you confuse left with right, steps refuse to travel from brain to feet, you fall and bruise, you try and fail, you get up and try again. And then you have a moment. And it's bliss." (Pointe Til You Drop: Six Classes Until..)

Bliss. Those moments when all your hard work pays off and you finally nail that double pirouette. Or when you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror, looking almost ballerina-like. When you jeté off the ground and for a split-second feel air-born. Those moments when the music, the sauts and pas and the port de bras all come together and you have become a dancer. Short-cut to happiness.

Adult recreational ballet dancing is not vocational training, but that does not exclude a passionate pursuit of skill and quality! Adult dancers respect the art of ballet and its traditions, and can be seriously committed students. Class is a common ground, for the new beginner and former semi-pro alike. Even though we are a mixed crowd, anything aged between 18 and 80 (presumably). Students, office workers, stay-at-home-mums, doctors, architects, teachers, artists, it really does not matter in the class-room. You put on your leo and tights, and whatever social status is left in the locker.

Ballet is demanding, even at a recreational level. I get frequently asked how much one can expect to advance as an adult student. Well, it really depends on your motivation, commitment and dedication. And your teachers! Without good teachers any ballet student is adrift in a sea of weird sounding French ballet terminology. You have to know your pas de chats from your pas de chevals.. If I were to give out any advice to a beginning student, it's this: find yourself an awesome ballet teacher! Someone who has respect for the art, but thinks no less of you just because you will never turn pro. That teacher will correct, coach, push and praise you - but still adjust demands to your personal abilities. Class will have a disciplined and positive vibe. There are going to be flushed faces, hard-working, sweaty and smiling dancers.

Adult ballet dancers make up a world-wide and wonderful community. Ballet is our common language and our passion. It is also lot of fun. Ballet keeps giving us happy buzzes, something we want to share with our fellow dancers - and it's the reason for this new blog to go live!

- Johanna for G.U.B.