Keeping Connected: Silver Swans Ballet

About this program

A return to balance and movement through the artful grace of ballet! Everyone welcome. Have you always wanted to try ballet? Or did you once dance, long ago, and would love to dance again? Then join us for Silver Swans Ballet. Classes are suitable for any age, whether you have danced for many years, or have never set foot in a studio before. No special attire is required. Come in tutus or track pants, bare feet or ballet slippers. Whatever floats your boat. The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) developed Silver Swans® in response to a growing demand for ballet classes for older learners. Sessions are based upon research into dance practice for older participants from the RAD's Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing project, which identified psychological and physiological benefits of dance. Established in 1920 to improve dance standards and training, the RAD is one of the largest and most influential dance education and training organisations in the world, with approximately 14,000 members in 85 countries. Classes are for both experienced and novice dancers and improve mobility, posture, balance, co-ordination and energy levels. Most importantly, they provide an opportunity to have fun and enjoy the sense of wellbeing that dance brings. Research: “Dance may unquestionably boost brain health, according to a 2003 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine by scientists at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The study looked at how leisure time activities affected older people’s chance of developing dementia. Only one of the 11 various forms of physical exercise examined—dancing—was shown to reduce individuals’ chance of developing dementia, according to the researchers, who also examined the benefits of cycling, golf, swimming, and tennis. The researchers found that social connection and mental exertion are both involved in dancing, and that this kind of stimulation lowers the risk of dementia.” It enhances memory and cognitive function. "Dance’s physical motions have also been demonstrated to lower tension, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Dopamine and endorphins, neurotransmitters that are in charge of sensations of pleasure and happiness, are increased by physical activity. By releasing certain brain chemicals during exercise, sadness and anxiety symptoms can be reduced. It also offers a means of escaping persistently unfavourable thoughts and problems."