Never too old to dream: A guide for adults who want to try ballet 

MANILA, Philippines – For some adults, the dream of becoming a ballerina — a vision once associated with childhood — remains quietly tucked away in the corners of their hearts. Life, bearing its responsibilities, often pushes these aspirations aside, making them seem distant and impossible. Yet for some, that dream never fades, or let alone disappear.

Enter the renowned Halili-Cruz School of Ballet (HCSB) in Quezon City, which offers adult ballet classes for beginners aged 13 to 60.

“There’s no age limit for them to learn or for us to teach,” said Kathrina Cruz-Bueno, one of HCSB’s associate artistic directors, adding that students are encouraged to learn at their own pace.

Although they put beginner teenagers under the adult ballet course so they won’t feel left out with children, Grace Geralde-Perez, also an associate artistic director, said she believes adult ballet is for beginners whose body is “not as capable as when they were young,” particularly starting from those in the late 20s or 30s age bracket. 

Meanwhile, teenagers get transferred to the classical ballet classes after a year of taking up adult ballet. Then, only the adults are left in the adult classes. These classes are designed to provide a welcoming environment for adults who wish to explore their passion for dance, whether they are completely new to the art form or hoping to rekindle a long-lost hobby. 

“You know the joke is always, ‘Uy ballerina ka, pwede pa ba ‘kong mag ballet? (Hey, you’re a ballerina, can I still learn ballet?)’ and I always say, yes, you can start even if you’re 60,” Cruz-Bueno said.

Whether you’re seeking an escape from reality, a form of exercise, or a long time desire to release your inner artist, the art of ballet offers a world of grace, strength, and self-discovery at any age. 

What you need to prepare before your first ballet class

Entering a dance studio for the first time is both an exhilarating and fulfilling experience. Though it may feel daunting at first, you’ll be surrounded by like-minded individuals who might be also taking a leap later in life.

Before embarking on your ballet journey, it is important to make key preparations for your first class. Start by choosing a class schedule and completing the necessary payments for enrollment. One cycle of adult ballet classes can be taken once a week (P7,000) or twice a week (P10,500). 

If you’re a new student, you need to pay a registration fee of P1,000, and purchase a complete ballet uniform (inclusive of leotard, tights, skirt, ballet flats, ponytail, hair net, and pins) that costs P3,300. 

HCSB also offers free trial classes, allowing you to get a feel of the class before fully committing. 

While you spend an hour of ballet class at the studio, you also have to practice on your own at home. Home practice allows you to slow down and focus on personal challenges and developing muscle memory at your own pace. You can dedicate time to specific exercises and you have the freedom to work on the areas that you feel need most improvement. 

Although home practice is beneficial, it is important to be mindful of your space. A small, clear area with a sturdy chair that can serve as your make-shift barre can work, but be cautious about practicing steps that require more space and impact, like jumps or jetes. 

More than just mastering technique

Aside from money and a uniform, there are other things you need to become a ballerina: inner strength and a good mindset.

Ballet is a discipline that demands time, effort, and repetition. As an adult, you may be balancing work, family, or other responsibilities, but it’s determination that will push you to keep attending class, practicing, and improving — no matter how busy life gets.

In HCSB, adult beginners classes are scheduled at 7 pm to 8 pm on Tuesdays and 7:30 to 8:30 pm on Fridays, which is fitting for an adult’s schedule who work 9-to-5 jobs.

Your body may not be as flexible or as agile as younger dancers, but with grit, you’ll learn to push through body pains and embrace every wobble.

According to Geralde-Perez, one of the common challenges for adult ballerinas is their limited body movement, given they’re not as flexible as when they were young.

“I try to adjust my steps to prevent injury [because] they’re prone to injuries. We cannot jump as high as we can and we cannot do steps as fast as we can when we were younger.”

However, Cruz-Bueno added they haven’t encountered injuries in the adult ballet class as ballet is very slow, progressive, and “not high impact.” 

The demands ballet places on the body often result in a range of minor injuries, which are part of the art’s rigorous nature. Without proper warm up, muscles can become sore, especially after long hours of practice. Despite these challenges, dancers are expected to develop the strength, endurance, as well as self-care routines to help them manage the physical toll of dance. 

It can take years of hard work for the effort you put into learning ballet to pay off. You can’t achieve the perfect arabesque overnight. Patience will help you enjoy the journey, regardless of the result. 

In ballet, it’s important to have the courage to show up, put in the effort, and allow yourself to make mistakes. Confidence will fuel your willingness to step out of your comfort zone, so try nailing that pirouette even when it feels impossible. 

Not all dancers progress at the same rate. Promotions are based on individual progress, skill development, and readiness to take on more advanced techniques. In some cases, age and physical limitations are also taken into consideration. This ensures that dancers are built on a solid foundation that provides them the necessary skills to handle more difficult movements. Aside from performance-based exams, dancers also have to pass written exams to get promoted. 

Ballet demands focus both mentally and physically. As Geralde-Perez puts it, “Ballet is an exact art, so everything has to be correct.” Every movement is performed with intention. Whether you’re holding a posture at the barre or memorizing a combination, presence of mind is essential to your development as a dancer. 

Finally, what drives a ballerina to unlock their greatest potential is their passion. It’s the love of ballet that drives you to practice endlessly, seek improvement, and celebrate your own wins. It transforms the challenges into something worth striving for. 

Adjusting according to physical limitations

According to Geralde-Perez, some adult ballet students have physical limitations, but that doesn’t hinder them from being able to dance. Sometimes, the challenge is in the speed of the steps, so she adjusts it by changing the music, allowing them to do it slowly first.

In ballet class, the teachers will guide you through specific movements that target key areas of the body, such as the hips, legs, arms, and back, gradually loosening tight muscles. The repetition of these ballet exercises over time allows the body to stretch further while still maintaining proper alignment and technique.

You don’t have to be flexible before starting ballet because it’s something that develops over time through consistent practice and training. Adult ballet begins with basic positions and stretches that gently work on improving flexibility. 

Geralde-Perez shared that while some adult ballerinas can only raise their legs up 45 degrees, it’s okay as leg extensions can be improved eventually with knowing the correct placement and proper form.

Releasing the inner artist in you

You don’t need to have a dance background before enrolling in a dance class. According to Cruz-Bueno, adults who enroll in ballet may not have prior dance experience, but are “already interested” in the art itself.

Similarly, Han Bit Bae, a preschool teacher, began taking adult ballet classes 10 years ago. Now at 34 years old, she still does ballet and other dance styles such as hip-hop, lyrical, jazz, tap, pilates, and acrobatics. Hailing from South Korea, she comes to the Philippines in the summer to join HCSB’s dance recitals. 

Meanwhile, Carmela Concepcion-Uy, an international laboratory scientist and Doctor of Medicine graduate, first entered the HCSB studio 28 years ago. She used to be a ballerina and cheerleader until high school. A depression diagnosis in 2023 led her back to her first love: ballet. 

“My psychiatrist said to just continue [doing ballet]. She was surprised because she admitted that not all of her patients do what I did. At least for me, she said, I went back to my first happiness. More endorphins, happy hormones,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino. 

Lhen Samson, an optometrist and teacher, started dancing at 50. She takes up ballet, jazz, and tap classes in HCSB. Samson confided in Cruz-Bueno that ballet has finally given her a talent after 50 years.

Lastly, Rosita Gomez, known as “Lola Mench” or “Tita Mench” to her young classmates and teachers, is HCSB’s oldest ballerina. She began dancing ballet at the age of 60, and started pointe work at 75. In fact, the teachers even asked for a medical certificate before they allowed her to take pointes class. She still takes dance classes in her free time — also exploring jazz, tap, lyrical, and hip hop at 80 years old.

Many adults take up ballet not just for the physical benefits, but for a deeply personal journey of healing, finding happiness, and fulfilling lifelong dreams. As ballet serves as their therapeutic escape, it allows them to release the inner frustrations that may have bottled up for years and find peace and clarify in the process. Each class offers a mental break from adulthood responsibilities and stress. 

“Just feel the music and then everything will follow,” Geralde-Perez said, as ballet is not only about the flawless turns or perfectly arched feet — it’s about the music, movement, and expression. 

Starting ballet as an adult is an incredibly rewarding experience despite the challenges life has to offer along the way. Amid the physical limitations, time constraints, and self consciousness, the happiness it brings to adult ballerinas outweigh the cons, making it a fulfilling experience for them. – Rappler.com

Rev Dela Cruz is a Rappler intern studying AB Journalism at the University of Santo Tomas.