Have you ever dreamed of crossing the stage in a performance of Swan Lake, but feel like your health or age are barriers to ballet? Well, the Australian Ballet and Dance for Parkinson’s Australia are about to make your dream a reality.
The truth is, you’re never too old to learn a plié, releve or sauté. The first step is to sign up for a series of free classes in the studios of the Australian Ballet Centre in Southbank starting on Sunday 18 June.
The Beaut Ballet Series is a collaboration between the Australian Ballet Education and Outreach team and Dance for Parkinson’s Australia. It’s a series of six classes that borrow choreography from Alice Topp’s new ballet Paragon and use warm-ups inspired by the classic ballet Swan Lake, which is coming to Melbourne in September.
Here at Ausdance VIC we understand very well the life-long health benefits associated with dancing for pleasure. Dance is an effective exercise for the body, the mind and the soul (however you might define it).
On the physical level, dance helps maintain strength, agility, balance and coordination. Learning and remembering dance moves and the rhythm of musical accompaniment is brain food. The joy of dancing produces endorphins and other chemicals in the body that help with feelings of well-being, emotional regulation and that all-elusive feeling of happiness.
Dance can be enjoyed at any stage of life and there is plenty of evidence that it is an effective therapy for people with age-related conditions, such as Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.
You might think ballet moves are a step too far for people with Parkinson’s or similar neurological disorders, but under the gentle and confident guidance of local teaching artists Katrina Rank and Paris Wages, you will soon find your feet and your ballet mojo.
Alice Topp is Resident Choreographer with the Australian Ballet and participants in the workshops will learn some choreographic moves from her recent work Paragon while learning about Alice’s creative processes.
Workshop facilitators, Paris and Katrina have advance-level training in the Dance for PD program and are professional dancers and dance educators.
The project will give access to art not readily made available to people living with neurological conditions like Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease and MS by giving participants a creative voice.
These classes are tailored for anyone living with health challenges associated with Parkinson’s or other neurological disorders.
Each class will have you inspired and moving with others to glorious music. And best of all it’s free!
No partners required, but friends are welcome.
Bookings are necessary at quixoticdancetech@gmail.com or call 0449058360.
Cost: FREE
Time: 11am-12noon
When: 18 & 25 June, 9 & 16 July, 3 September
Where: Level 5 of 2 Kavanagh Street, South Bank
Please wear loose, layered clothing and bring bottled water and socks that you can move in. The ones with grip soles are perfect.
The Beaut Ballet Series is supported by The Australian Ballet, Dance for Parkinson’s Australia and a grant from the Aged Persons Welfare Foundation.