Dance teacher and Silver Swans class lead Gillian Moore. Photo / Supplied
On Tuesday evenings you’ll find a group of adults in their ballet flats working on their plie, posture and balance at Pāpāmoa Sports & Recreation Centre.
They’re part of the Silver Swans ballet class, designed to improve mobility, posture, co-ordination and energy levels for over 55-year-olds – but all adults are welcome.
Gillian Moore leads the class. She’s a distinguished dance teacher who has taught ballet for 45 years and operated the former Gillian Moore School of Dance in Pāpāmoa.
After retiring, Moore did a course that looked at the importance of movement as you get older, and how learning dance combinations can help the brain.
Now she’s teaching two adult ballet classes – one class is made up of her former students, and the Silver Swans class is filled with parents of the children she used to teach.
Participants range in age from 45-75.
Moore said dancing allows you to make new connections with your brain, and forces you to be aware, through focusing on techniques and combinations.
According to the Royal Academy of Dance, dance can also play a vital role in ensuring a longer and better quality of life.
She described dance as a complete mind and body workout, with the Silver Swans class a vehicle to share the joy of dance at any age.
Eunice Williams, a parent of one of Moore’s former students and current member of the Silver Swans class, agrees.
“It’s keeping the brain going, learning new skills,” Williams said.
“My daughter danced since she was 4 and is now a dance teacher herself. I have watched her for years and now I’m trying it and you just see how difficult it is. It’s very difficult to start when you’re older but I’ve improved heaps.”
All but one person in the Silver Swans class is a parent of one of Moore’s former students.
“I’ve known them as parents, now as students. I’m very proud of them; they’ve done really well,” Moore said.
“I will soon be teaching their grandchildren,” she joked.
Barbara Taylor danced as a child and returned to ballet 30 years later.
She was grateful to have discovered Moore’s Silver Swans class and joined at the start of the year.
“It’s hard to find a class for adults that’s not during the day,” Taylor said.
“When Gillian’s class popped up, I was like ‘oh, thank you’.”
Taylor said the Silver Swans ballet class is a good stress release, allowing her to switch off after a hard day’s work.
“You’ve also got that relationship building too because you feel safe in a class when you get to know people, and then you’re willing to even try even if your legs don’t go the right way.
“It’s good for the kids to know we have a life when we’re older too.”
The Silver Swans class runs during the school term time on Tuesday nights.
Moore said committing to a term was the most valuable for progression.
“I think in the beginning it takes a long time to just do the simple things ... it takes time,” she said.
“It’s just interesting to do when we’ve watched our own children dance and now we’re doing it to keep our brains going and to improve our strength because ballet is not like normal movement, it’s not natural and so you really have to think hard,” Taylor said.
Two of the Silver Swans, a mum and dad whose children were taught by Moore, treat the sessions as date nights.
The couple, who weren’t keen to be named in the story, say “we also come because we really love Gillian”.
The Silver Swans class is held on Tuesdays during school term time from 6-7pm at Pāpāmoa Sports & Recreation Centre, a community facility in Gordon Spratt Reserve.
Moore said you don’t need to have experience to attend.
“We’ve all come a long way. They’re still talking to me and come back for classes,” she said jokingly.
Anyone who is interested in joining the Silver Swans class can contact Moore on 027 222 4564 or by email on silverswansbop@gmail.com.
- Content Supplied by Bay Venues