Skip to main content

Ballet studio musings from two 50+ dancers


Hi everyone,
Founder and Director of Ballet4life Donna here. Spring
brings new things such as growth, change, and opportunity. I recently asked two lovely dedicated 50+ adult ballet dancers at Ballet4life to start writing for us about their experiences with dance, on the side, as they progress with their classes, technique, and confidence in the classroom. They were rather receptive so I think it is the time to launch their stage on which their words will dance, work hard, help others, and inspire people to come and dance in the local area.



Images: Ballet4life Director Donna Schoenherr- All rights reserved
Susan and Julia, S & J, I will hand this over to you and soon will be publishing many more of your words.
As a warm up to their first performance, I will quote some of their recent writings/comments already shared with Ballet4life. Here are two samples for your reading pleasure.
Julia- commenting on Rebecca Scott’s rehearsal with Donna for the upcoming showcase on 20 May:
Here are a few notes I wrote whilst watching Becky rehearse.
Today I had the pleasure of watching Becky rehearse her dance to the most lovely and nostalgic music! This dance sequence which encompasses Donna's creative choreography will be shown amongst other dance pieces at the Ballet4life showcase on May 20th at St Peters Church, Turnham Green, and the audience are in for a treat, not to be missed!! A clue to this dance piece; “I can almost see the poppies floating from above."
Image: Julia is Contemporary/Lyrical Jazz Dance Class with teacher Beatrice Ghezzi- All rights reserved
Susan- commenting on the recent big changeover in staff and her thoughts about the first class with our new teacher Mark Kimmett: 
I just want to say that I overcame my anxiety today and
although I missed Clarissa, today's class was wonderful. Mark is very kind and although I initially felt quite apprehensive I thoroughly enjoyed the class and the Pointe class. I don't know why I was so worried ......
Image: Susan after Beginner Pointe Class with teacher Clarissa Rocha- All rights reserved
26 April
Susan’s feedback after class:
Today I attended the 11.15 class at the dance studio at St
Peter’s Hall. This was the first Wednesday class I had attended for a while and was Mark’s first Wednesday class. I find Mark to be a teacher who is very encouraging and is happy to let you work at your own level whilst gently reminding you to think about your posture etc. I now keep trying to think of something pulling me upwards to elongate my neck and spine! The exercises were similar to those undertaken at the Saturday class but were slightly different so no chance of complacency! I found it very helpful that Mark told us “ it does not matter if you make a mistake “ Mark has a very holistic approach to his teaching. The class was made up of ladies of varying ages and the teaching made it suitable for all. If you have time on a Wednesday morning I can thoroughly recommend this class.

Images: Susan in Beginner Improvers Ballet Class with teacher Mark Kimmett- All rights reserved







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

 VeRNaL eQuiNoX -  nearlY   18 March, 2024 Dear All, I just wanted to day hello and to provide some news and comments before too long! I am trying this approach versus the Mailchimp newsletter to see which is easiest. Studio Swap   We had an interesting, enriching and exciting time with the Saturday studio swap for our Spring Term! We hope you enjoyed the experience. We are now reverting to our previous set up for Summer Term which means the following: Beatrice classes return to St. Peter's Hall Int/Adv Ballet- 10.30am - 12pm Pointe Exercise 12.05- 12.20pm General Level Contemporary Dance- 12.30- 1.30pm Move into Wellbeing 1.45- 3pm Down the road at Arts Ed, Studio 210 Beginner Follow-on Ballet 10-11am Beginner Improvers Ballet 11.05- 12.15pm Tasters in Beginner Jazz Dance, Contemporary Dance, and Beginner Ballet 12.15 - 1.15pm Short Beginner Ballet Course - 12.15 -1.15pm  Johanna Von Salmuth will lead these on a rota with our newest teacher Shiri Hadad joining the roster! We give
Post a Comment
Read more
   Because you asked for this! LOL! Donna Schoenherr - Founder of www.ballet4life.com® and of charity Move into Wellbeing®   Happy March 2021 all! The days are getting longer and Spring is not far off! Here we are nearly one year since the whole COVID-19 Pandemic hit our lives in London and also changed the world. This selfie below, I took the last day of our in-person classes on 19 March, 2020. I will never forget that day.    This past year, many of you have asked me to share more details about my life and my career. I am not someone who likes to blow one’s own horn , so I thought best to share a long version of my biography created for me but with my own satirical quips interspersed, and then just be open to conversations. I finally found and edited the long version of my CV/Biography. If you fancy a read (and maybe a giggle or two) please sit back with a cuppa or a glass of vino and enjoy. None of the names or facts have been changed and the crazy journey I retell is tr
2 comments
Read more
END OF YEAR REFLECTIONs from Donna    Hi everyone, Remember me? With my Christmas stocking I know it has been so very long time since a new Ballet4Life Talks Dance blog was created. Apologies if you felt abandoned- you were not! This silence was not due to a cautionary forecast of fading trends nor wondering if people read anymore, but simply due to life's fullness and waves of electric synergy and movements.   "Company Warm-up" at Watermans Art Centre with Beatrice Ghezzi- May 2023 Ballet4life is nearing its 20th Anniversary, this milestone, which I am deeply proud of, also comes with a certain amount of reflection, reviewing, with long- and short-term projection & planning and wonderment and curiosity. When I think back on the now thousands of people I have had the privilege to meet, work with, teach, mentor, facilitate good quality dance training for, befriend, support, help on their career paths, help through grief/illness/loss, it is a bit mind blowing!?! I can e
Post a Comment
Read more