LIFESTYLE

Anna Britten indulges a ‘Black Swan’ fantasy on an adult ballet course.

My ballet career began at the age of three. It ended a few months later. I’d landed flat on my stomach in class, you see, and winded myself. Tragic though it was for the performing arts world, this humiliating experience ensured my leotard and ambitions remained mothballed – until a few weeks ago. Now in my late 30s, after watching ‘Black Swan’ and BBC Four’s ‘Agony & Ecstasy: A Year with English National Ballet’, I decided it was time to pick up where I’d left off, and spontaneously paid £36 for a six-week adult ballet course at Bath Sports & Leisure Centre.

Turns out I wasn’t the only thwarted ballerina in town. As we took our places at the barre, I noticed my beginners’ class, of around 15 women, ranged from one or two students through to pensioners. Now, I felt for Natalie Portman and the gruelling training she endured for her Oscar-winning role, but I bet she never had to bear witness to the superior grace, skill and footwear of a clutch of over-60s.

From the get-go, we felt like proper ballet students. That is, there was no childish skipping about (or winding oneself), acorn-to-oak-tree whimsy or pandering to overarching ambition. Instead we received a firm grounding in the basics – pliés, demi-pliés and foot positions, set to a recording of piano music. Dull? No way. It was far too tricky – and teacher Kim was the incarnation of good-humoured can-do attitude, gamely demonstrating dos and don’ts, and chivvying us out of our unswanlike grimaces and frowns. Shoulders were encouraged down, and bums in. It soon became clear to me what a tough, precise discipline ballet is for body and mind – not only must every muscle, joint and tendon be alert and on message, but you can’t lose concentration for a second (at times I was reminded of playing a musical instrument or calculating a really hard sum). All this and – for a professional – artistic expression too. Truly, ballet dancers must be the most sophisticated athletes on earth.

At the end of the lesson we got to couru (running step) and pas de bourrée (fancy step change) up and down the studio – less chorus line than herd of nervy deer, perhaps, but still fun. There was scarcely an atom of self-consciousness anywhere – so focused was everyone on their own footwork they didn’t notice yours.

As the weeks glided past, the basics were reinforced and gradually built upon, bringing in arm and head movements, until we were performing pretty complicated (for us) drills such as an actual ballet dancer might use to warm up. It was immensely satisfying and has, I’m sure, had a beneficial effect on my posture. Furthermore, I now can’t move from the fridge to the cooker without involving the fifth position, get dressed without developpéing (unfurling) my leg or cross the sitting room without a grand battement (high kick) or two. Sadly, a dodgy toe means I didn’t sign up for the next course, but I fully intend to get back into my imaginary tutu at some point. After all, you’re never too old.

ADULT BALLET COURSES (BEGINNERS, INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED) RUN AT BATH SPORTS & LEISURE CENTRE. FFI: WWW.AQUATERRA.ORG/BATH-SPORTS-AND-LEISURE-CENTRE/DANCE/ADULT-BALLET-COURSE

Ask the expert

Kim Jones, dance teacher

Do you need dance experience to take an adult ballet class? No experience necessary, just plenty of enthusiasm and a determined attitude! Ballet looks so graceful, but as lots of participants find out, it does require you to discover muscles you may not have used before.

What are the benefits of ballet as an exercise? I have received feedback from a huge age range about this. Increase in strength and flexibility along with improved posture are perhaps the more obvious advantages. However, enlarging your social circle also seems to come hand in hand with attending these courses! My older ladies (those 55 plus) find that their balance goes as they get older but ballet seems to help them with this.

Why do you think men are so reluctant to sign up and what can be done about it? I think it really comes down to a lack of confidence, as with any new activity undertaken. Perhaps they think they will have to lift all the women in the class if they are the only male for a pas de deux! I can only hope that word of mouth might inspire more to join.

Do you ever get bored teaching the same steps over and over again? No, not at all. Each dancer approaches movement in such a different way, dependent upon body shape/composition, other activities they do that may enhance/hinder, previous training etc. I love to see how someone has interpreted my technical guidance. It is always wonderful to see progress, even over six weeks.

What's the hardest move in the whole of ballet and can you do it? Famously, Odile’s 32 fouettés in Swan Lake are always cited. I'm OK on the fouetté part but couldn't manage it on pointe!

What’s the difference between teaching children and teaching adults? I guess the main difference is that the adults have chosen to be in my class and many are following through on a childhood dream. So many adults seem to have done even a small amount of ballet when they were young but have regretted giving it up. I think offering a more relaxed learning atmosphere makes them comfortable to push themselves beyond their boundaries. Children, by nature, are more likely to throw themselves into movement, whereas adults always begin slightly more reserved, but they normally flourish after a few lessons.

Copyright Anna Britten 2011