Ballet schools specifically catering to adults are beginning to emerge in Australia and abroad, including The Adult Ballet School in Sydney and Elancé Adult Ballet School in Melbourne. Many schools are also offering adult classes so that those wishing to return to dance or continue ballet in their mature years can do so in a non-threatening environment, away from young, fit, competitive students that can make one feel self conscious - particularly in front of the mirrors.

Adult dance companies are also emerging here and overseas, such as Adelaide's Move Through Life Dance Company, with some company members in their 40's and 50's, and Britain's From Here to Maturity, started in 2000 by ex-Rambert dancer Ann Dickie. These companies produce quality performances and increase opportunities for mature aged dancers to perform at a high level and continue to enjoy dancing in later years.

Adult ballet is not about having perfect turnout, perfect feet or the perfect waistline, but it's about embracing the challenge, feeling the music and developing new skills. Some teachers typically won't consider students in their adult years as they know they will never become professional dancers and can't see the reward in it, but those teachers who take the time to impart their love of dance into adults, are sharing a special art form to an appreciative crowd who are eager to learn.

Studying ballet in adulthood is challenging and rewarding. At Elancé Adult Ballet School, Victoria, students learn correct technique from the very first step. 'It's not wafting around waving scarves and calling it ballet', says Principal, Dianne Harrison. Pupils choose from seven levels from Beginners to Intermediate, and each 90 minute class is divided into barre and centre work.

'Classes are well structured with a good balance between discipline and pleasure. Importantly, we understand that adults don't have the body type of a typical ballerina and we make sure that what we teach is appropriate to each individual's needs.' Elancé also has an all-male class that commenced as beginners. 'I think it takes great courage to do that and their progress is remarkable,' Ms Harrison says.

Ms Harrison says that adults who take ballet classes tend to fall into one of two catergories. Many took ballet classes in earlier years but were unable to continue professionally. Other students never had the opportunity to learn- it was too expensive, there were no convenient schools, or were told it was "inappropriate", particularly for boys, who were pushed into more masculine pursuits such as football.

Elancé welcomes adults with no prior ballet experience, and Ms Harrison says there are always a number of psychological hurdles she coaxes adult beginners over in the early stages. 'When people phone up to inquire they will often say, "I'm overweight", or "I've had three children", or "I'm not fit or flexible". It's about training them to become the best dancer they can be with the body they have now, and helping them to understand that the classes are not competitive. Most of all, it's about giving students the opportunity to bring the joy of ballet into their lives.'

Elancé Adult Ballet School has three studios - Footscray, Hawthorn, Oakleigh.

Call 1300 739 483
www.adultballet.com.au
dianne@adultballet.com.au