Target reached!
Any extra money raised will be used to fund additional training and set up costs for...
Adults and older people performing in ballet show
South Shields, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
Aim
Support adults and older people to perform in a ballet show and attract more people to dance for life-long wellbeing.
A bit about me
I am a Registered ballet teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance and have been teaching ballet over 10 years -I’ve been dancing myself for well over 35 years now! A few years ago, I completed training to teach ‘Silver Swans®️’ which is ballet aimed at over 55s so it’s adapted, accessible and inclusive. Having mostly taught children and pre-professional students, I fell in love with the idea that you could be any age, possibly have health conditions, disabilities, mobility problems or no dance experience whatsoever, but still take part in ballet classes. So, I began my own Silver Swans®️classes in 2019 in South Tyneside. Class sizes quickly increased and I opened up classes in more areas. I now have over 70 adults and older adults attending ballet lessons with me but I want to reach more people. I see and hear about the positive impact dancing has had on lives and I want to encourage more people to dance!
The benefits of dance
Silver Swans®️ was the result of a project looking at how dance can improve life long well being -and it certainly does! In a recent survey with people from classes, all said that dance had improved their balance, mental health, physical health and social life - most said that this positive impact was significant. They have made new friends, had more confidence in themselves and started learning something new -some even took a ballet exam! I am so proud, I just want the chance to show them off and what better place to do that than on stage in front of an audience!
Show time
I have a keen group of adults from my classes -a mix of ages and abilities, who have said they want to perform in a ballet show. Since the end of June we have been rehearsing twice a week -most have been practicing at home as well, ready for our ‘Complete Ballet Showcase’. On 7th November 2023, my adults will perform on stage at The Customs House, South Shields, with dances from famous ballets like Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Coppelia.
I’ve recently started running seated ballet classes with Age Concern South Tyneside, and a few have volunteered to take part in the seated ballet section in the show! It’s great to be working in partnership and I‘m excited for them to demonstrate that its possible to dance even when sitting down!
This group of amazing women can not only dance, but many can sew and craft and are using their skills and resourcefulness to work together to make their costumes and other props for the show.
How the money will be spent
I’m raising money to make sure everyone taking part in the show, has the full experience of performing ballet on stage. Money raised will go towards materials for the remaining costumes, professional photography and video of the event, and costs of hiring the theatre and rehearsal space. It will also be used to help advertise the show, and my classes, to reach as many people as possible and encourage them to take up dance for life-long wellbeing.
We’ve used the local theatre before -just for regular lessons on the stage with no spectators, so the group could experience dancing in a theatre setting. We had lots of fun -here’s a video from when we were last there.
It’s taken a lot of gentle encouragement over the past couple of years get to this point -for most of the group, this is completely new to them. Performing on stage has been a childhood dream for some, so I want to make sure these amazing women have the best experience possible.
“Being a part of a group creating a production is a wonderful feeling of being part of a bigger thing than what one person can do. Team working, learning steps and passing on joy to an audience can only be good.”
Where to go for more information
You can find out more about Silver Swans on my website https://completeballet.co.uk/classes/silver-swans/
Even better, if you’re in the South Tyneside area, why not join a class and give ballet a try -your first lesson is free! Or get tickets to see these fabulous Silver Swans in action in our Complete Ballet Showcase! https://www.customshouse.co.uk/
Thank you for your support
This project successfully funded on 10th October 2023