Ballet Knows No Age

The unexpected benefits of practicing ballet as an adult

When stepping inside Kathy Mata’s ballet studio at the Alonzo King’s LINES Dance Center, you expect to be greeted by the usual stuff: soft music playing in the background, front desk staff answering phone inquiries, and maybe a glimpse at the mighty exercise bar, but what you probably wouldn’t expect to find is a group of students in their mid-60ies, waiting for their weekly ballet class to start.

Because the is the adult ballet class!

Located near the Civic Center/ UN Plaza in north-eastern San Francisco, California, Kathy Mata’s ballet school gives classes to adults ranging from 18 to 80 years of age, independent of previous experience, sportsmanship, or even such a major detail as a letter signed by your GP saying that it’s okay for you to even attend such a class.

Every girl dreamed about being a ballerina as child, but what could possibly prompt seniors or grown-ups having to deal with full-time jobs and family responsibilities want to take up such an unusual type of physical activity?

Karen, a Pilates instructor, tries to explain: “It really means a lot to us that there’s someone out there willing to teach us some ballet. Just because we’re not kids anymore and we don’t have a career in front of us doesn’t mean we don’t love dancing. We do!”

Rosemary, 80, adds: “I used to be a model so I am used to harsh exercise regimes, but I come here for the mere fun of it.”

John, 54, isn’t your usual ballet dancer either: committed and unidealistic, he admits he’d always thought “ballet was a thing for the ladies” until recently trying it himself and discovered it was the most demanding type of physical training he’d ever undergone.

Jacqueline, a recent lung transplant recipient, says ballet classes, along with therapy sessions, have helped her overcome the stress following her surgery and attain some degree of inner balance.

They meet twice a week to “let ballet classes loosen up their spirit and bodies”, as Rosemary puts it, but also help them forget about the stress at home or at work, as Regina, a court judge, admits.

And the benefits are countless! When supervised, ballet is good for body flexibility and coordination, strength and even cognitive development.  

Ballet really is unique: it helps develop better posture and balance, and acquire a natural type of grace that any woman – and sometimes a man in a hundred maybe – find themselves secretly envying professional ballet dancers for. 

With annual shows taking place in early spring and mid-autumn, Mata’s classes seem to attract more and more students who see the benefit of exercising more and once a year starring in a ballet show.

The building on 26 7th St. #5 is a superb example of modern architecture that works both as a practical space and a place where people can get together.

The classes the school offers include Basic Ballet, Intermediate Jazz, Beginning to Advanced Hip Hop, Middle-Eastern dances, and Rhythm and Motion. 

(This post is part of my 4-week Just Get Stuff Done 2024 challenge, which involves me stepping out of my comfort zone and writing about random things I’m not necessarily familiar with.

The source was a YouTube video posted by the studio’s owner. The post, however, was not reviewed or approved by the owner, and it only reflects the author’s opinion upon watching the said video.

For more information about the school, please visit the website: https://linesballet.org/about/ .)