Dance yourself to health

Phillip Island Dance Studio has introduced a new dance movement class for the Over 55s.

This is the first time the studio has offered the class specially tailored to older adults.

Rowena Campbell, the dance school founder and instructor said the idea had been bubbling in the background for many years, but up until now, she hadn’t had the capacity to offer the extra class.

An added impetus came from the ABC TV program “Keep on Dancing”, which aired late last year.

The two-part special “Keep on Dancing” (now available on iView) followed a 12-week program where nine older Australians aged over 65 explored the power of dance.

The aim was to slow the effects of ageing and help improve their health and the results were amazing and uplifting.

“After the ABC show I got a lot of phone calls from people asking if I’d run a class for older people,” Rowena said.

“But even before the show, I had people ringing about daytime adult ballet classes.”

The new Over 55s Dance Movement Class will run on a Thursday from 10.30am – 11.30am.

Rowena is expecting a good response, and urged anyone interested to get in touch.

“You may have danced in the past, but you don’t have to have a dance background. The class can cater for all levels,” she said.

“It will be determined by what people can and can’t do, for safety. We don’t want to injure anybody … no one will be doing triple pirouettes.”

The class will initially focus on ballet barre work, but ballet clothes will be optional.

“I know the thought of wearing a leotard terrifies some people. You can just wear comfortable clothes and people can start off in their socks,” Rowena said.

“We’ll start with barre work, before going to the centre of the room for more lyrical stuff.

“It’s important for expression to be free, and ballet doesn’t have to be rigid.

“But I do like the repetitiveness of the ballet barre. It challenges the brain, challenges memory,” she said.

“It builds up core strength for posture and the bone strength it builds up is important for older people. It improves balance, especially for people who are starting to feel their mobility is going.”

For all the physical benefits of ballet, Rowena believes it is also good for mental and emotional health.

Plus there’s the social side of a weekly class – “everyone getting out and enjoying having a laugh”.

“Time in the studio is a time away from stress,” she said.

“You don’t have to be the best dancer to get a lot of benefits out of it.”

The classes are held at The Centre, 223 Settlement Road, Cowes.

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For more class information email: phillipislanddancestudio@gmail.com