Before my sister started looking into taking an adult beginner ballet class (thanks sis!), I had no idea there was this whole underground network of adult recreational dancers. I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a “recreational” ballet dancer. I always thought that at a certain age, ballet dancers went in one of two directions—those who pursued it as a profession, and those who just…stopped. Because they they were about to enter the “real” world.
I had no clue that there were people out there who either continued to dance on a recreational level, or people who started/restarted to dance later in life. I’m just now discovering this huge community of women with day jobs or busy raising kids who decided that it’s not too late to pursue their dream. They’ve defied conventions and stereotypes and their own self-image of what a ballet dancer should or shouldn’t look like and have taken up the art at an age where many people consider it to be “too late.”
I was one of those people who never dreamed that I could be dancing again. After having given it up at age ten, that was it for me. It wasn’t until my sister presented me with a menu of adult recreational classes in the area that I once again dusted off the dream of dancing ballet.
While I was ecstatic to have discovered recreational dancing, I was also a little wary. After all, isn’t it just a little pathetic to try to recapture something you did as a little girl? Kind of like those women who relive their princess days through their weddings, right? But I had to slap myself silly for even thinking that. First, since when did I care about what people think? And second, so what if I do want to indulge my long-lost inner ballerina? Why should I feel defensive about that? Not like anyone is making fun of my restarting ballet. Turns out I’m my own worst enemy/critic. When I tell people I’ve restarted ballet they’ve been nothing but supportive, and for the ladies, just a little bit envious. Women remember their ballet days fondly—with a smile and a wistful look in their eyes.
The struggles and triumphs of this very special group of courageous grown-up dancers (and yes, it takes courage to don a pair of tights after a certain age) was captured in a documentary called “Everyday Dancers.” It made the rounds of the film festivals and the DVD is available for sale. I’ve hinted to NDH (non-dancing husband) that it might be a good birthday present for his DW (dancing wife). Just watching the trailer made me cry. Grab some tissues and take a look.
