Silver Swans Ballet Classes at Whitianga Town Hall

💃 Silver Swans® is a weekly ballet class in Whitianga Town Hall suitable for adults with previous dance experience. Classes focus on ballet barre work to develop strength, flexibility and coordination while expressing yourself through music.

These classes are perfect for those with reasonable to good mobility who can move without assistance and have average to good strength and balance. Whether you're returning to ballet after years away or looking to maintain fitness through dance, these sessions will help improve your mobility, posture, and energy levels.

What to expect:

• 60-minute guided sessions with warm-up and cool-down
• Choreographed ballet sequences
• Exercises with and without the barre
• Recreational classes with no exams
• Entry fee: $20 per class

Your teacher: Marilyn Swan is a Royal Academy Of Dance Life Registered Teacher with over four decades of dance teaching experience. She is a certified Silver Swans® instructor licensed to teach this special programme.

For more information, contact Marilyn on 027 336 5263 or email swanebbs@gmail.com.

Why Ballet is Brilliant for Adult Fitness 🩰

Ballet offers a unique approach to fitness that combines strength training, flexibility work, and artistic expression. As a low-impact yet highly effective exercise form, ballet is particularly beneficial for adults looking to maintain or improve their physical wellbeing.

The ballet barre provides excellent support for balance exercises, making it accessible even for those who haven't danced in decades. Each movement in ballet is precisely designed to engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously, creating efficient full-body workouts that improve:

• Posture and alignment - ballet's emphasis on proper positioning helps correct postural issues that develop over time
• Core strength - nearly every ballet movement engages the core, building abdominal and back strength
• Balance and coordination - ballet exercises systematically improve proprioception and stability
• Flexibility - gentle stretching throughout class enhances range of motion
• Mental wellbeing - the combination of music, movement and concentration creates a meditative state that reduces stress

The Silver Swans® programme was specifically developed by the Royal Academy of Dance to adapt classical ballet for older adults, with careful attention to safety and progressive development. Unlike many fitness classes, ballet also offers cultural enrichment through its connection to music, artistry, and centuries of tradition.

Dancing regularly in a supportive group environment also provides valuable social connections. Many participants find the camaraderie and shared experience of learning ballet as adults to be just as rewarding as the physical benefits. ✨