Reflections from the Heart

How does learning Ballet helps Active Adults and Seniors?

An Interview with Catrina Choate-Heretoiu

It is sometimes very useful to get “closer and more personal” with Teachers and Instructors. This is because their own personal life context may often help with our own life circumstances and choice-making. In this article, KineOasis will introduce a first interview with one of its co-founders, Catrina Choate-Heretoiu, a professional ballet dancer, long time Ballet Educator and Feldenkrais Practitioner.

Catrina founded SomaStudies, a project dedicated to somatic work and its various applications, and, together with her husband she founded KineOasis where movement becomes a sanctuary through a somatic approach that combines exploration with highly specified, individual instruction. As always, readers are invited to send in their questions, or comment on our articles and posts on social media. Enjoy!

How does learning Ballet help your adult and senior students?

Seniors are looking for ways to stay active, to exercise, to mentally challenge themselves, and to be social. My Ballet for Active Adults & Seniors class provides all of these things.

When I offered this class in Madison, Wi area I worked with about 50 seniors per week. The majority of them have never taken a ballet class before this experience and have quickly learned that ballet is possible, even in the later stage of life! Even more important is that not only do they discover it’s possible to move with grace, but it’s also enjoyable.

Every basic ballet exercise helps with both stability and mobility. Each class slowly works with balance and strength. From the ground up, we talk about how to feel and activate stability while shifting weight and moving through space. We also enjoy moving to beautiful music while learning to dance as a group.

How do they describe their experience during and after your classes?

I’ve heard comments and people have shared with me about how they feel stronger, how they feel a full-body activation, how they're energized without being overly worked, how they’ve noticed their balance improve outside of class, and how much they have fun with the music and people in the class.

"A community is formed and the participants really get to know each other while learning something new and laughing through the process."

I’ve also been told that Ballet for Active Adults & Seniors is comparable to Tai Chi. The sense of slow speed and fluidity they feel in tai chi seems to remind them of my class as well. Some people have commented that particular ballet steps are similar to their Physical Therapy exercises or to their chair yoga class but the music and ballet structure provide a different way to experience the work.

What is the difference between your ballet classes and other classes at other studios?

I find this question difficult to answer because I don’t know how other people are approaching their teaching to adults or seniors. I do know that my Ballet classes are directed specifically to active adults and seniors.

There are adult ballet classes inside of studios that are wonderful but these are often too fast for some of the aging population. I work with the absolute basics for people ranging in age from 55 to the upper 80s. Some people are very independent and moving well, others are limited in their physical capacity but are incredibly interested to improve and challenge themselves! I’m usually quite good at adapting the class material for each person involved.

I have a somatic background as a Feldenkrais Practitioner and naturally work with a healthy and holistic movement approach. I don’t push joints or place people in dangerous exercises but rather, I work with people individually and get to know their aches, pains, injuries, physical insecurities, and then I offer ways to approach ballet so they are comfortable so that learning can happen and enjoyment can flourish.

Can your ballet classes for Active Adults and Seniors benefit online students and how?

Absolutely! The majority of my senior students take one time a week but have expressed great interest in repeating these exercises at home with video instruction. Online instruction is very helpful and useful to assist the strengthening process and physical engagement. Everything I do in class can also be done online at home.

Is there any research being done to highlight the benefits of Ballet for Active Adults & Seniors?

Yes, there have been multiple studies* exploring the benefits of Ballet, including how it affects an aging population. Ballet is a beneficial form of exercise for older adults, offering significant improvements in mobility, balance, and fall prevention. It also enhances physical function and quality of life, making it a valuable activity for promoting healthy aging. Here are a few Key Physical Health Benefits of Ballet for Older Adults:

  • Improved Mobility and Balance:

Ballet classes have been shown to enhance gait mobility and balance in older women, with participants demonstrating improved performance in mobility tests.

These improvements are crucial for maintaining independence and reducing fall risk.

  • Reduced Fall Rates:

Participation in ballet has been associated with a significant reduction in fall rates among older adults, making it an effective intervention for fall prevention.

  • Enhanced Physical Function:

Regular ballet practice contributes to better physical function, including increased muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility. These improvements are essential for daily activities and overall physical health.

  • Quality of Life:

Engaging in ballet not only improves physical health but also enhances the quality of life by promoting a sense of community and social interaction, which are important for mental well-being.

These benefits underscore the importance of incorporating ballet and similar dance activities into exercise programs for older adults, something I am continuously pursuing and building within the community.

Finally, can people reach out to you with questions and for more information about your classes?

It will be my pleasure to answer everyone’s questions! This is my lifelong passion and love sharing it. Our websites have our contact information and I am always just a click away. Simply use the contact widget on our websites and choose your preferred method of contact and I will reply as soon as possible.

My in-person Ballet for Active Adults & Seniors classes and Feldenkrais practice in Sarasota are also listed here:

https://kineoasis.studiogrowth.com/schedule and our readers can always find out more information about myself and my practice on our KineOasis website: https://www.kineoasis.com/about-us

* Ballet related research:

  • Liu, X., Shen, P., & Tsai, Y., 2020. Dance intervention effects on physical function in healthy older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01440-y.
  • Harrison, E., Haussler, A., Tueth, L., Baudendistel, S., & Earhart, G. (2024). Graceful gait: virtual ballet classes improve mobility and reduce falls more than wellness classes for older women. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2024.1289368.
  • Pines, R., & Giles, H. (2020). Dancing while Aging: A Study on Benefits of Ballet for Older Women. Anthropology & Aging, 41, 83-94. https://doi.org/10.5195/aa.2020.209.
  • Hui, E., Chui, B., & Woo, J. (2009). Effects of dance on physical and psychological well-being in older persons.. Archives of gerontology and geriatrics, 49 1, e45-50 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2008.08.006.
  • Hwang, P., & Braun, K. (2015). The Effectiveness of Dance Interventions to Improve Older Adults' Health: A Systematic Literature Review.. Alternative therapies in health and medicine, 21 5, 64-70.
  • Lu, J., Rahman, N., Wyon, M., & Shaharudin, S., 2024. The effects of dance interventions on physical function and quality of life among middle-aged and older adults: A systematic review. PLOS ONE, 19. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0301236
  • Waugh, M., Youdan, G., Casale, C., Balaban, R., Cross, E., & Merom, D., 2024. The use of dance to improve the health and wellbeing of older adults: A global scoping review of research trials. PLOS ONE, 19. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311889

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