Many adults shy away from taking ballet classes because they assume they’re too old to learn, but this is a big misconception! Here are just a few reasons to nudge you towards the nearest barre.
1. Ballet is a Marathon Not a Sprint
Don’t worry about getting thrown into the deep end! Ballet classes for adults are often tailored to the ability of the participants, starting with slow and controlled movements so that you can learn at your own pace without feeling overwhelmed. Every new dancer begins by first acquiring the correct alignment and then building the muscles required to perform the harder skills. The training will improve your flexibility, body awareness, muscle strength, and muscle memory.
2. Keeps You On Your Toes
The saying ‘better late than never’ rings true as other than being good for your physical health, ballet is also great for your noggin! A recent study showed that people over the age of 55 who took part in regular dance classes had significantly better cognitive function than those who didn’t dance. So if you’re looking for a way to keep your mind sharp as you age, ballet is a great option.
3. Croix Training
Few master the movement of their bodies quite like a dancer – this is why ballet training can be so beneficial in improving athleticism and injury prevention. Something as basic as knowing where your knee should be in comparison to your ankle when landing or taking off from a jump can be extremely useful and important. Notable athletes who practiced ballet as a supplement to their training include Michael Jordan and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Many professional Australian football players also turn to ballet for their injury recovery processes – and I don’t want to exaggerate, but for some, ballet literally saved their careers!
4. Ballet is for Every-Body
Ballet classes are for everyone! In this day and age we can finally leave old misguided notions behind about who can dance ballet or who ballet is for. Learning ballet is a tough discipline that invokes respect in each dancer for the other, allowing us to appreciate how our bodies can move and express. There is also a joy and freedom in learning as an adult as the studio becomes a safe space for like-minded people who respect and enjoy the art form. You will no doubt find the ballet community as not one that puts you down but uplifts you instead!
5. Confi-Dance
Try as you might you can’t really escape dancing in life, whether its getting dragged to a night out with friends or having to hit the dance floor at birthdays and weddings. You might as well accept that dancing is inevitable and start learning to be light on your feet! Ballet classes are a great way to improve your coordination and the control you have over your own body. Once you feel comfortable within your own skin and moving your body to music, your self-confidence will grow, both on and off the dance floor.
6. A Gift From You to You
Allow yourself that hour or two within your busy week to reset in the calmness of a studio – to breathe, check-in with yourself and dance to music. Ballet can be so much more than a workout, you can look forward to walking out of each class feeling composed and lengthened from head to toe, and have the studio be somewhere you can spend your alone time or with your ballet buddy!
Hopefully your interest has been piqué-d and we will see you in our studios soon.
*If you are completely new to ballet, we can recommend starting with our Ballet Fitness Basics – you will be able to learn at your own pace in a safe environment, practicing simple repetitions to familiarise yourself with basic ballet movements. If you need more of a nudge and would like to read more, take a deep dive with us into what makes ballet so good for you with our 10 Benefits of Ballet.
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