By Anagha Madhan
A common way ballet is perceived, is as a young person’s art form. As something you must start as a young child and dedicate your entire life to. This is further propagated since ballet is typically associated with young, lithe dancers making leaps that look physically impossible. While ballet does involve this, and the imagination does stem from truth, ballet is so much more than just that. This misconception understandably discourages adults from pursuing ballet, thinking they’ve missed their chance. But is this belief grounded in reality? In this blog, we’re debunking the myth that ballet is only for young people, and showing that ballet can be enjoyed at any age.
South California Ballet adults class
Contrary to popular belief, ballet is not necessarily for the young. Throughout history, many dancers have continued their dance careers well into adulthood. Legendary ballerinas like Margot Fonteyn danced professionally into their 50s!
While professional ballet careers and contracts may become challenging to pursue later in life, dance is for everyone! The benefits and joys of ballet are not confined to youth. Whether you learn how to pirouette at age eleven, or age forty, the glee of spinning stays the same.
Adults of all ages can enjoy and benefit from ballet. It offers a blend of mental stimulation and physical challenge, regardless of what stage of life you’re in.
What’s in it for you?
Ballet offers a myriad of benefits for adults which extend far beyond just the physical aspects that come with dance. Embracing ballet as a hobby can lead to noticeable and extremely healthy improvements in your life. This is because dance, ballet especially, combines the trifecta of well-being – physical, mental, and emotional. Not to mention, ballet has a unique way of connecting adults with their inner-child, since being a ballerina is a dream for many, it brings joy and fulfilment to long-held dreams.
Photo from Swan Ballet Academy
Physical Benefits:
- Flexibility:
The first thing that comes to mind when we think of ballet is flexibility, and of course, one of the most noticeable physical benefits of ballet is improved flexibility! Ballet classes focus on stretching and lengthening exercises, which help gradually increase your range of motion – after all, none of us start by being able to hold our legs over our heads. This increase in flexibility helps reduce stiffness, and improves overall mobility. It is particularly helpful in maintaining joint health as you grow older
- Strength:
Ballet demands and develops muscular strength. We focus on controlled movements with grace, which means you thoroughly workout every muscle group and learn to do it with a smile! The various positions and movements, starting from a plie (a bend) to a developpe (a controlled unfolding of the leg), require an engagement of the core, leg, and arm muscles. Regular practice will help you build and tone these muscles, which means you’re getting stronger and building endurance. This will definitely improve your ability to perform daily tasks and overall mobility.
- Posture:
One of the first things taught in ballet is proper alignment and posture. This has an extremely positive impact on the mechanics of your body, as you will develop a greater awareness of your body which helps in correcting poor posture and alleviating issues like back pain due to the same. Improved posture is becoming increasingly important in the digital age for people in all stages of their life, and it contributes to a more balanced way of moving.
Shilpa Paralkar, TLFCB student on stage in Sleeping Beauty
Maintaining and taking care of your physical health as you grow older will keep you moving, and aid enormously in leading an independent pain-free life. It will mitigate the effects of growing older by strengthening your whole body.
Mental Benefits:
- Stress Relief:
Sometimes, it feels like your mind is running at thousands of kilometres an hour. Everything in today’s world is loud, and it is easier than ever to be overwhelmed and overloaded on a daily basis. The combination of rhythmic movement, breath control, and concentration involved in ballet helps calm the mind and reduce anxiety. It offers a mental break and relaxation, and also releases the happy hormone as you let your body move.
- Cognitive Function:
Dance offers something special that no other form of workout does: the mental challenge of learning and remembering choreography. Your brain is a very important organ too, and this exercises it. Recalling sequences, coordinating movements, and understanding the space around you at the same time is a brilliant workout for your brain. It improves your memory and cognitive abilities, and will ensure your mind remains sharp.
- Mindfulness:
Ballet teaches you two very important things: to completely throw yourself into a step, and to be fully present in the moment. While dancing, you learn that the only way to learn a step is by doing. Focusing on your movements and breath helps you to engage with the present, and gives your mind that space free of clutter. This enhances mental clarity, and offers a more centred state of mind.
Emotional Benefits:
- Confidence:
No matter where we are, self-confidence is a vital thing throughout our lives. Seeing physical evidence of your body becoming better and healthier, is a sure-fire way of boosting self-confidence. It is never too late to reintroduce learning into your life, the process of learning and improving provides a sense of accomplishment and pride.
- Joy:
Ballet is inherently extremely expressive. The act of dancing and presenting yourself allows you to explore creativity and express emotions in a vivid and exaggerated manner, adding a sense of fun to the process as you experience the pleasure of storytelling.
- Community:
Ballet class gives you the opportunity to connect with others who love dance just as much as you. A sense of community and belonging, with different people learning with you is fostered.
Maureen Gonsalves attending adults ballet class online during the pandemic
Just do it!
Throwing yourself into new things comes with hesitation that grows as you do. This is why it is extremely important that sometimes, you just decide to do it. If you ever had a voice in your head that said “I wish I could dance”, then dance is definitely meant for you. Remember that the body has an innate capacity to return to its most healthy form. So, there is never a moment when “it’s too late”. Your body is much more capable than you think it is, and you just need to tap into that.
The first step of dance is not being lithe, flexible, or young, but actually just moving. So, if you’re reading this article, it means you have an inkling of interest, and that is enough reason to go dance!
The Fear of Being Perceived
Okay, let’s address the elephant in the room. Something that comes with being self-aware human beings, is the fear of being judged or watched. Even the thought of being self conscious, or embarrassed in a ballet class can be extremely daunting, enough to completely shut down the idea. However, pushing past that fear can lead to incredible joy and growth that makes stepping out of that comfort zone extremely worth it.
Every dancer starts as a beginner, and step zero of dancing is the understanding that everyone has their own journey and pace. It’s what makes dance unique – it’s extremely personal to every dancer! Embracing the fact that you’re stepping toward something new and exciting and celebrating that courage is what matters most. Once you take that step, dance will teach you to focus on your progress over perfection. You will begin to recognise just how unique your journey is and the fear of how you appear to others will be overpowered by how you feel about your own progress.
Apprehension and self-consciousness is a perfectly natural part of trying something new. Something that helps pull us out of it, is remembering why we started in the first place. Once you address that fear, it can transform into a wonderful source of strength and motivation and drive you forward.
Where should I start?
Look for Adult Beginner Classes
Many studios, including TLFCB, offer classes for adult beginners. These are designed to accommodate the pace and needs of adults who are new to ballet or returning after a long break. They focus on building the foundation needed and more importantly, provide a supportive environment to learn ballet at your own pace.
Ask an instructor!
Speak to an instructor about your interest in ballet, they will know best when it comes to choosing a class or grade that aligns with your experience and goals. Generally, there are a variety of grades you can join to begin your training, and choosing the right grade from where you can first, lay a foundation, and then go on to excel is vital.
Start slow
It is crucial for anyone who starts ballet to start with the absolute basic ballet techniques and gradually build your skills. Remember, your body will learn at its own time, and listening to it is step one of learning ballet. Mastering the fundamentals before progressing to more advanced steps will make sure you’re pushing your body in a safe yet challenging way.
Set achievable goals
Realistic goals and celebrating small successes – such as attending your first class, learning a new step, or improving your flexibility, will keep you motivated and engaged throughout your journey.
Be patient with yourself
Progress takes time and patience. It is natural to face challenges and setbacks! While you might be overly critical, remember that you are still improving by trying.
Consistency, consistency, consistency
Being consistent in practice is essential for dancers of all ages to make progress in ballet. Even short, consistent practice sessions can lead to significant improvement, and is miles better than no practice at all.
Ballet is a timeless, rich art form that is for individuals of all ages. Its benefits are much more than becoming a prima ballerina, they span physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and most importantly – it is never too late to start! Embrace the dance and let ballet work its magic on you, because it’s never too late to dance like nobody’s watching!
Here’s a link to a dance performance from an adult intermediate class by the Tutu Times Adult Ballet Company!
Want to read testimonials of adults who started their ballet journey? Click here to read about some of TLFCBs budding older ballerinas!
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