Are you one of those individuals who have always been interested in the beautiful performance art form of ballet, but have somehow missed the opportunity to explore your potential and are left believing such a skill can be honed only if one’s passion is discovered at a tender age, allowing for a stronger foundation and a greater likelihood success?
Well, the opportunity for adults who still harbour such desires now have a shot at embracing this art form. Now is your chance! An opportunity awaits! This, thanks to a Somerset West-based ballet instructor who is offering beginner classes in ballet for adults at the Imibala Ballet Studio in Bright Street.
A keen Lauren Welgemoed was inspired to offer the classes after recognising a gap she felt compelled to fill. “In my own experience of attending adult ballet classes at various studios I have seen newcomers that have little to no ballet experience struggle to keep up with the regular class and most often abandon the attempt,” she said.
“The aim is to offer adults who have never done ballet, or perhaps a year or two in their younger years, the opportunity to participate in a ballet class that is set at beginner levels and designed to progress from this point.”
The one-hour class she is offering sees avid adult ballerinas-in-the-making in action at the recently established studio on Monday evenings at 17:00, a programme that is “really for anybody.” Welgemoed believes success is possible for any eager student willing to start at the beginning and build up the technique and strength required to dance. “We are focusing on the basic ballet posture and steps in order to build up from there. It is an excellent full body workout with the added advantage of being a dance form one can enjoy without focusing on doing exercise per se.”
She boasts an excellent response after advertising the classes on social media, confirming the belief that there really is an interest in this type of class, the first of which was held on Monday 6 March.
The instructor’s hopes for the classes, comprising a warm-up, barre and centre work, stretching and some core exercises, are simple. “They aim to give people the pleasure of enjoying the dance form as much as I do as well as the satisfaction of being able to build up their capacity to do ‘real’ ballet. So take the leap and come and try a class out, [even if ] just for fun!”
Welgemoed has expressed her passion for ballet since age 4, when she discovered her love for the art form, its grace and its music. She completed her dance teacher’s diploma at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and is a qualified Royal Academy of Dance instructor. She connects particularly with the required structure, discipline and attention to detail, and on class days looks forward to seeing the progress of the students from one session to the next.
For more information contact Welgemoed on 084 290 5266.
