Ballet is a beautiful way to keep moving forward when our lives are standing still.
So, embrace your personal space and treat it as a work of art.
That’s what I’ve said countless times as a ballet teacher. But never has it been more meaningful than now.
I’ve always been passionate about the everyday benefits of ballet for me, personally, and for the many other older adults here in New York City that I’ve been honored to teach in my free classes. I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned over a lifetime as an amateur ballerina, if that’s what you call someone who dances for the sheer love of it. Older and maybe a little wiser, I value ballet most for the way it balances and centers me in ways that reach far beyond movement and dance.
As our city, our country — our whole world! — tries to make sense of life in this COVID-19 era, our only defense is to isolate ourselves from one another. To my surprise, ballet has become my constant companion.
Like many New Yorkers, I spend most of my time these uncertain days in an eternally-cluttered apartment where cozy really means incredibly small. My living roomserves too many purposes: TV news drones in the background; Alexa lights up and she won’t tell me why; ambulance sirens scream outside too often; and, right now, a bored but really cute puppy is somewhere chewing on my favorite ballet slippers.
My portable ballet barre has a place of honor near a window that allows light to shine in on my morning sessions. Anywhere I am, I make do with a dining table or high-backed chair as a barre substitute.
What I’ve learned from a lifetime of practicing ballet is that each of us has the power to transform whatever space we inhabit. By personal space, I mean the room our body takes up from the tips of our toes to the top of our head and however far our outstretched arms can reach. Even though we’re all home-bound, it matters that we stand straight and tall, ears aligned with our shoulders, stomach taut, backside tucked, legs turned out with feet firmly grasping the floor as if our whole body is drawing energy upwards from the earth itself.
The way we move can influence how we feel about ourselves and how we’ll cope. Careful balance promotes good physical and emotional health. It’s our duty, as well as our delight, to create something beautiful every step of our balletic way.
No worries if you’ve never attempted a plié or arabesque. What size, shape, age or gender you are doesn’t matter. There’s no better time to discover the many ballet classes online; Zoom, Instagram, You-Tube are our friends.
Dancing virtually at home in whatever space you have demands that you celebrate yourself. And here’s a fashion note: scheduling an internet class is a good excuse to pull together some good-looking dance outfits, too. Time to get out of those PJs!
All dressed up and no place to go is exactly what I have in mind.
About Jennifer
“I’ve never paid much attention to age. I took my first ballet class – not as a little girl – but just before my twenty-first birthday as I began my career as a journalist. By day, I was city editor of a local New Jersey weekly newspaper; at night, I studied ballet at our neighborhood studio with Matt Mattox, who became world famous. Then, as now, I was usually the oldest in my class. My ballet slippers were probably the first things I slipped into my backpack when my husband, baby daughter and I moved to New York City. I landed a job at Women’s Wear Daily working for the legendary fashion columnist Eugenia Sheppard, who taught me about style and how to write about it. Later on, my fascination with vintage fashion and re-using old clothes inspired me to launch my own business. That led to freelance projects in the theater and work as a theatrical costume designer off-off-off Broadway. Along the way, I’ve published three books about travel and road-tripped throughout the American West writing about my adventures. Currently, I’m under contract to write a book about the vintage fashion world.
Throughout my life so far, ballet has been the thread that ties everything together. Six years ago, I started a free ballet class for older adults at our East 67th Street public library. It’s for anyone, any age, who finds joy in dancing.”
You’ll find other ideas about virtual ballet at Jennifer’s website.
COMMENTS
21 responses to “Apartment-Sized Ballet”
Hi admin! Thank you for content.
Hi admin! Thank you for content.
Hi admin! Thank you for content.
Way cool! Some very valid points!
Thank you for your lovely article. What a gem! I have been fascinated with ballet since I was a little girl growing up in Montevideo, Uruguay where my mother enrolled me in a class at a very young age. Fast forward to 1969 when I moved to NYC and lived in Queens. A few years ago I took ballet for beginners at the 92nd Street Y for a few semesters. My love for ballet continues now that I moved to CT. Would love to follow your class online when that happens. Good luck to you!
Miriam Lodieski
Miriam, I’m happy that you liked my article and — even more — it’s terrific that you’re sharing your ballet journey . I believe it will inspire others. Ballet, as you know, is ageless. Thank you. Jennifer
‘
Hi Jennifer,
Loved reading your article. Hope that when all this is over, you will resume teaching classes at the library. In the meantime, I try to keep in shape by doing some ballet exercises using whatever furniture I can as a barre. Stay well.
Hi Sonia,
Keep on ballet-ing at home! It’s what I’m doing, so we are partners. And, yes, I’ll be teaching ballet workshops when it’s safe. Meanwhile, here’s a plié
hello for you.
Be well,
Jennifer
Jennifer,
You’re a superstar! Love your writing, your ballet practice and your message of “moving forward when our lives are standing still.” How timely and inspiring.
Hope to see you soon.
Hi Carol,
“Moving forward” each day is really the key to getting through this, don’t you think? But can I fit through my door now after your terrific compliment? I’ll try.
Thank you and stay safe,
Jennifer
Reading this article made me so happy. I have been in Jennifer’s ballet classes for over six years. It’s a very fun class with so many beautiful people. Many of us have never done ballet before but we all love the movements we do learn. Jennifer is a very fun instructor and class goes by so quickly. I’m waiting for this terrible virus to go away so we all can get back to our normal life.
Hi Kathy,
This makes me smile! it’s wonderful to read your word: happy. We all need some happiness these stressful days.
Thank you and stay safe,
Jennifer
Please correct previous post on name. Jennifer (not Janet)
Janet,
I read your article on Ballet. I was so inspired by this. I work as a rec. coordinator for senior adults and I know how much they love to dance. Ballet would be a perfect addition to our program. Please let me know if you have a zoom or you tube class. On a personal note, I was so excited to read this article for myself, (being 58 years old) it give me inspiration to try something I always wanted to do but never had the opportunity while growing up.
Great job and article. You are making a difference. Thank you.
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
I’m sure that your comment is an inspiration to others like you and me. I can picture all of us dancing in our living rooms as we make our way through these difficult days.
Thank you and stay safe,
Jennifer
Hey there!
I too worked at WWD! Now I work at a dance school in Westchester. During quarantine my barre is a cabinet in a small room where I have to be cautious during grand battement. And I also am often the oldest in my classes.
Thanks for writing!
Hi Jane,
We really have a lot in common. Especially that grand battement in a small room. Once, my foot ended up in my puppy’s mouth! But we still dance.
Stay safe,
Jennifer
Thank you for sharing your experience. I started taking classes for adults with Ballet Academy East, which is located on the Upper East Side. The teachers and classes are now on Zoom and are great. As an older adult and even if you have never taken ballet class before, you can take Introduction to Ballet with them and do very well and get a good workout. The classes are very reasonably priced.
Thank you, Vicki. I can imagine you doing a plié right now!
Stay safe,
Jennifer
Jennifer
I am so delighted you are sharing your ballet journey . Yes, How we hold our bodies is so very important . THANK YOU for sharing. Hope to see you at Senior Plante. I will check out your website.
Be Well
Stay Safe
Thank you, Joan. “Ballet journey” is a great way to put it.
Stay safe,
Jennifer
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