A Love Letter to All Adult Dancers

By James Ady

July, 2024

Whether you danced since you were a toddler, dabbled in elective college courses, or even just lost yourself down a YouTube rabbit hole of Sylvie, Nureyev, Paloma, Misha, Suzanne, Roberto, Gillian, Fernando, or Natalia, ballet can be a lifelong exploration of art, physicality, and mental aptitude. Dancing, and more specifically ballet, is beneficial at any age.  Learning new rhythms, moving the body, accelerating the heart rate, picking up choreography, and counting music are just some of the positive results when learning ballet.  Adult dancers not only seem to have an unending desire to expand their ballet vocabulary, they also often have the time and resources necessary to hone in on a new skill, such as ballet.

“I was not born a ballerina, but I have become one at age 70.  I walk into ballet class four times a week, focusing on my goals of improving my technique, relaxing into the music, and deepening friendships with both teachers and fellow adult dancers. Westside Ballet is an enchanted world where I find beauty and connection,” said one of my adult students.

As a teacher of adult dancers for the last five years in Los Angeles, I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the smartest, hardest working, and inspiring people I’ve ever known. Every Sunday morning at 9am—which as a former professional dancer is VERY early to be taking a ballet class—forty to fifty adult dancers come into Westside Ballet School and start their plies with me.  Our median age is somewhere in the late 50’s but I have students from 14 to 85yrs old every Sunday!  Westside Ballet is similar to New York’s Steps on Broadway in that it has a robust adult class schedule.  Westside Ballet also has a school and company as well.  These fiercely dedicated students do all the tendus, rond de jambs, developes, and grand battements at the barre before a simple but challenging center.  They are curious and want to know the “why” of ballet.  I encourage them to ask questions and every week they don’t disappoint!  More than in a typical school class or professional ballet company class these adult dancers feel comfortable asking, “Why do we roll up through the spine after port de bras forward?” “How high should the arm be in arabesque?” “What is a temps de cuisse?” “Is that a pique or a releve?”  They definitely keep me on my toes, pun intended, and continue to challenge me as a teacher and an artist.  

When asked why they dance, one of my students (age 72) responded with, “I dance because it allows me to use my body and imagination to interpret music and tell stories.  It is a beautiful way to express myself although I am making slow improvement due to physical limitation.  The discipline and concentration required keep my physical body and mind fit and sharp.  The dance movements and coordination help me to improve balance and spatial awareness, they make me feel graceful, happy, and empowered.  Dancing also provides social interaction and gives me a sense of community.”

To be honest I wasn’t super excited about teaching an intro to ballet class in the beginning because I was unsure if I would be able to connect with this group.  After a career as a professional dancer and a teaching resume that includes Rehearsal Director at Ballet Memphis, Assistant Professor/Lecturer at University of Utah, company classes at Los Angeles Ballet, Colburn Conservatory, and Professor of Dance at Kaufman USC I was hesitant I would be able to teach adults.  That’s only mentioned so I can whole-heartedly say I adore these dancers and have learned so much from their collective love of ballet.  They have taught me so much about longevity, perseverance, and doing what you love for as long as you absolutely can! Calling them my, “Sunday Morning Superstars,” many of these adult dancers treat these classes like a religion—rarely missing even a day. Although I only teach them on Sundays, they are often taking up to 5 or 6 classes a week! 

Another dancer (age 58) responded to my question with this, “ I dance because it makes me feel alive and happy.  The syncing of movement and music is beautiful to watch but to actually be able to express that yourself is exhilarating.  To play with the music through movement by holding a pose/step just a little longer creates moments of anticipation and excitement, like an author/composer who writes an eloquent phrase/score. Movement is another articulation of the human condition.  To be able to dance, that’s hard work. It requires athleticism minus the show of effort plus musicality. That challenge is another reason I dance, it is rewarding, an accomplishment remembered when done well, owned by the dancer.  It is both badass and graceful.”

I have been curious as to why these lovely dancers apply themselves so fully as adults, especially since they aren’t heading off to summer programs or auditioning to become professional dancers. Each one of them would most likely give you a different answer as to why they dance:  to stay active, to enjoy the stimulation of the group environment, to become more flexible, or just to watch other bodies move to the music.  The energy and excitement around ballet is palpable!  Last summer, Westside Ballet offered a new and improved adult workshop and I had the honor of working with many students, most of whom had never performed onstage before.  We did excerpts from Giselle.  Getting to observe the joy that comes from performing in front of an audience and collaborating in a new and exciting way was absolutely thrilling! This experience added to my theory that ballet either for yourself or for any other reason can be a fantastic addition to your life. Although yoga may be kinder to the joints, getting to dance as an adult brings an artistic element to these dancers’ lives that seems to be so infectious.  

While being a dancer from the age of 15-29, I had a wonderful career with Pennsylvania Ballet and American Ballet Theater.  It ended all too soon due to a foot injury, but before that it was so much fun to be young and pain free.  Turning and jumping all through the days!  And as a former dancer and teacher now, I’m continually impressed by all of these adult ballet students because, pain be damned, they are going to dance and keep dancing through countless obstacles!  

“Why do you dance?” Another student (age 85) said, “I am urged to dance when I hear music I like. I share Alessandra Ferri’s feelings: ‘I started dancing when I was three. I wanted to become music. Dancing is the only way to do that.’  I always wanted to keep a good figure, even when I became old.  Dancing is the only physical activity I have continued on and off since junior high. So, I started taking ballet classes when I retired. I had a much better singing ability, which I used throughout childhood, but I chose dancing instead of singing because I wanted to be beautiful even a little bit. Dancing is the barometer of my aging physical condition. I can see what I used to do with no effort is no longer within my repertory. I cling to what I still can do, and I appreciate what I still can do.  Dancing and taking ballet classes are some of my enjoyments; being a member of the ballet community, I am happy to see, talk, and dance with my favorite teachers and students with whom I have been taking classes for a long time.”

Many cities and communities around the country have programs for adult dancers not only in ballet, but also in jazz, modern, hip-hop, as well as the ballroom dances.  I encourage everyone to try something new or revisit something that may have been dormant in their lives for decades. Ballet can transcend, inspire, and create hope for people of all ages.  Go ahead and take that first step!

westsideballet.com/faculty/james-ady/