Take the Stage
To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking. —Agnes De Mille
When I slip into my pink canvas ballet slippers and walk into the dance studio wearing a pink chiffon skirt that swishes as I move, I’m transported to the stage. The pianist begins to play as we plié.
As a little girl I loved my twice-a-week ballet classes and especially enjoyed the annual recitals where we’d don tutus, pointe shoes, and dance a story created by my 70-year-old tough love teacher with a strong German accent.
I hung up my toe shoes after junior high to join the high school Pom-Pom team performing at athletic half-times without any interest in the basketball or football games. In my 20s I transitioned to yoga and I’ve spent thousands of hours on my foamy pink mat ever since.
Shortly after selling the yoga studio in 2017, I treated myself to Christmas in Paris and got tickets to see Beauty & the Beast at Versailles. Tim and I sat on a charming red velvet bench on the upper level and watched the beauty unfold below. Mesmerized and jet-lagged, I spent the wee hours back in our Montmartre Airbnb googling adult “ballet classes in DC.”
Bleary-eyed, I screenshot the possibilities and landed on a Friday noon beginner class at The Washington Ballet. During the rest of my Paris adventures, I had visions of flowing across a studio floor in ballet slippers.
When back to DC, I slid into 20-year-old slippers, and tried to follow along in the entry level class. I flailed and fell a few steps behind for the entire 75-minutes and realized how little muscle memory remained—definitely not like riding a bike.
I continued taking a class or two weekly for 18 months and when The Washington Ballet announced a ballet Bootcamp that included a performance at the end of the weekend, I cleared my schedule and showed up with bells on both days. Although I was in over my head, I gave the 55-second performance from Don Q everything I had—hand flourish finale, big smile, and all.
When the pandemic hit, I found ballet academy east in NYC, purchased a ballet barre and became devoted. Daily classes became the norm and I also added a weekly private session with a favorite online teacher—a former Broadway choreographer who offers generous, constructive feedback and has a gentle demeanor.
I’m now drawn to ballet documentaries (Restless Creature and A Ballerina’s Tale) and books (Raising the Barre, The Ballerina Mindset, Ballet for Life) and after dreaming of balancing on one foot, doing a solid pirouette, and slipping into shiny pink toe shoes, I’ve done it!
Ballet challenges in a variety of ways—from balance to coordination to getting the body to remember the choreography. Some days I end class in tears, others I’m elated. It’s humbling.
Adult ballet is a great practice for the whole body, but it’s also great for cognitive functions such as coordination and concentration — all things that can start to decline as we age! A New York Times article titled “Ballet is a Great Workout for an Aging Body” reinforces my experience.
A few reasons to love ballet as an adult:
🩰Improves concentration and flexibility
🩰Tones and lengthens muscles + improves their strength
🩰Enhances coordination, stamina, and posture
🩰Increases energy
🩰Facilitates self-expression
🩰Improves balance and self-confidence
🩰Releases endorphins
🩰BONUS: You get to wear pretty costumes, crowns, and dancewear (hello, balletcore)!
As a child, you practice all year for that one recital and I find that mentality ingrained in me. I loved the performance with lights, tutus, crowns, and stage makeup and I love watching it now.
It may not be typical to take up ballet again in midlife with dreams of getting en pointe and performing, but it kept me motivated and I’ve now performed in a few shows. While yoga is more about the practice with no ultimate goal beyond enlightenment (lofty!), ballet is a dream.
A dream of twirling on the stage, showcasing how hard you’ve worked, and challenging every part of yourself.
Shortly before I turned 50, I made it through an intense week at the 2023 International Adult Ballet Festival, cried through dress rehearsal, and (after dusting myself off) won the gold for the beginner classical division! Here’s an Instagram reel highlighting the week.
In this podcast, I share more into what it took to become a pink fairy and, ultimately, win the gold plus tips on bringing your own dreams to life at any age! In this video you’ll find ideas on my go-to ballet tools.
Ballet isn’t just a dance form; it’s a timeless art that transcends language and connects hearts. Whether you’re a dancer, a fan, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of the arts, today is a day to be inspired — and maybe, just maybe, to step to the barre if you’re up for a new challenge!