Gone are the days when adults have to attend ballet classes with students 20 years younger than you because those are the only ballet classes available.
Not saying that there's anything wrong with attending ballet classes mainly targeted towards younger dancers (in fact, good on you!). But as adults who are learning ballet for the first time or returning to ballet after a long break, we tend to be more at ease going to class with those in a similar boat.
There are now more and more dance studios that offer adult ballet classes. But how do you know which one is right for you, especially when you're looking to learn ballet for the first time? We've tried to come up with some things to think about when embarking on your search for the right ballet studio for you.
Teaching staff - especially if you're a ballet beginner, it's important that the teachers have experience teaching adult ballet students. It's even more ideal if they have ballet teaching qualifications too. Of course, the teaching style of the teachers should suit you as well. You will have a lot more fun at the studios if you enjoy a teacher's teaching style.
Other students - we find it so important that your adult ballet community is welcoming and encouraging. You are more likely to go to class again and again if you like the 'vibe' of the studio. Afterall, the ability to connect with fellow ballet lovers is a huge part of the whole experience!
Class attire - class attire for adult ballet students tend to be more relaxed. You can choose to wear a leotard with tights and skirts (like the Sinead Leotard or the Midnight Flower Boatneck Leotard, pairing with some fun Bullet Pointe or elegant Sisira Dancewear skirts). Or you can choose to wear a t-shirt with yoga tights. You should be able to feel comfortable and confident to dance in whatever you choose to wear to class.
Flooring - as we get older, we find the studio flooring especially important in preventing injuries and aches. More and more studios are now fitted with specialised vinyl dance floors (sometimes referred to as tarkett or harlequin floors) that are less slippery and provide more shock absorption than traditional timber floors. Definitely avoid concrete!
Class music - while a lot of studios use pre-recorded music (and there's nothing wrong with that), a class with a live pianist really elevates the experience.
Pricing - with the rise in cost of living, unfortunately we have been seeing many price increases for ballet classes too. It's good to see if the studio has any packages or deals that work for you.
Performance opportunities - unlike younger dancers, there aren't many competitions opportunities for adult dancers. However, there are a few dance studios which offer performance opportunities for adult dancers as part of their end of year shows. Look out for them if you would like to experience dancing in a corps de ballet or even as a soloist!
Ultimately, if you are interested in a dance studio, just reach out to them for more information. Make good use of any introductory offers for new students. And remember, with the increasing number of options, if you don't feel a studio is quite the right fit for you, you can always just try another one.
