SILVER SWANS STORIES

Cabri Dance in Toronto

Annemarie Cabri got in touch to share a video from her class in Tornonto, Canada where, as well as being a Senior Teaching Artist for the National  Ballet of Canada and Canadian Opera Company, she also teaches Silver Swans.

You can watch her video above, and read some of the inspiring stories from her students.

The feeling of grace and poise

I did ballet from the age of 10 to 17 with Meeta Thomas in Northenden, and loved it until I stopped to focus on university entry. After a break of over 40 years, I started again, and have done classes with Cheriene Bailey in Sheffield for the past three years.

I have arthritis in my left foot (for which I have had surgery to fuse a joint with a long metal plate) so there are certain things I can't do comfortably, such as rising or running on demi-pointe, and I have been advised not to jump. However, we work out alternatives between us, and others in the class know they can run past me!

It delights me to be able to move with the music, and my body still automatically remembers the rhythm of the exercises, and placing of my head and arms from my training so many years ago. The feeling of grace and poise I enjoy may not entirely reflect what I look like to the rest of the world now, but what does that matter?

Whoever continues the message that older dancers can still enjoy ballet training deserves praise and recognition, and all Cheriene's students were delighted when she recently received a Lord Mayor's award for 'Outstanding Contribution to Education' after 53 years of teaching.

Swans dancing Paquita

I realise your call out on social media was for Silver Swan students and you’re after written stories, however as a digital newsletter I couldn't help share with you this video I made of my Silver Swan, Maria, and I, her license teacher, dueting with our last term’s repertoire, Paquita: 3rd Variation by Marius Petipa. We learnt this across 11 lessons.

Maria was dancing so beautifully in class I asked if she’d mind coming back after class for me to film her (with me there as back up). Not only is her dancing a lovely example of what we Silver Swans can achieve, but I have also included the original video of inspiration to see where our choreography parallels. I think it’s interesting for other licensees to see each other's repertoire adaptations, but also to educate outsiders who think it's the professional way or no way.

Maria danced in her youth until she was 15 years old, she then returned to ballet after a gap of 47 years when I began Silver Swans classes in her area (Thatcham) in 2020. In lockdowns she was my most devoted online attendee, participating in three ballet classes a week! At 67 years old, she now attends two in-person Silver Swans classes a week as well as my advanced tap class with ladies as young as their early twenties, showing them how it's done!

Sonia Brown

Editor's note: Unfortunately, YouTube wouldn't allow us to share the video because of the music, but can find the link here to watch.

Silver Swans - A Perspective

We bring, I would guess, approaching a thousand years of lived experience between us. We are nurses, vets, teachers, writers, PR professionals, NHS workers, carers, former dancers, and many other things besides. A group of ladies who undoubtedly have enough experience, expertise and common sense to rule the world; but that is for tomorrow. Today, in this place, we are pupils and saving the world can wait. Today we are dancing – hurray!

As with all pupils there are the swats (for which read former professionals), the geeks, the gigglers and the teachers’ favourites. Luckily no sign of the bullies or the bad girls! We are all doing our best and trying to get the counting for glisse’s correct – I’m looking at you Amanda …

No time or brain space for anything except trying to get it right – shoulders down, toes pointed, breath in, smile…the list goes on.

For each of us this is happy hour, when we get the chance to put the world aside and enjoy learning something new (well it might not be new, but most of us don’t remember whether it is or not!). ‘Collective Effervescence’ is, apparently, a form of happiness; the sort of thing a football crowd or a concert audience enjoy – when the sum-total of an experience is made greater than the event in isolation. In our small way we definitely have it in our dance studio. The joy of dancing together never fades, hopefully it never will.

Whilst dancing is the main thing, it isn’t the only thing. Because here there is also real friendship. Whether we are getting excited about live reporting from the birth of a grandchild overseas, celebrating a big birthday or an upcoming wedding, we are also here for each other in the challenging moments. Led, always, by our amazing teacher Stephanie.

With notable exceptions we may not all be brilliant, but that isn’t the point. We are here and we are dancing together. If there is a better way to spend an hour I have yet to find it.

Sheena Passfield

New Forest Silver Swans

Rowena's Friends

After many years caring for my elderly parents who suffered from dementia, I was completely shattered. My mobility, confidence and social network had all diminished, and when they passed away I knew I needed to focus on caring for myself for a while.

Years before, I’d danced flamenco, but at the age of 60 I decided to try something new, and so I joined Johanna Hadley’s online classes at the Janet Lomas School of Dance. It was wonderful, I literally felt myself coming back to life! The music, the movement, and Johanna’s encouraging tuition felt like balm to my bruised soul. Two years later I am a dedicated ballet student and I even have my own YouTube channel, Rowena’s Friends, showing my progress from the beginning, and showcasing Johanna’s wonderful choreographies!

Rowena Crabapple

Prestatyn

North Wales

My Inner Swan

I have recently joined our local Silver Swans group who meet at Milford Church Hall every Thursday with Stephanie Constantine-Smith. I cannot begin to express how much I enjoy her classes and how much I enjoy expressing my inner swan through dance again.  When I was three years old I took ballet lessons and my mother made me a tutu which I have now passed on to my granddaughter and I am sure those classes inspired in me a love of dance and performance. I believe every little girl should have ballet lessons!

I am writing as you have asked for any post Swans related and I wanted to tell you how ballet has featured very early and much later in my life.

With kind regards

Helen Byrne

Joining in

I first went to ballet classes in Chard, Somerset aged about three and loved it and was especially proud of my little black leather ballet shoes. Before long sadly the teacher was taken ill and the classes stopped and I was never given a chance to go to anything else. We lived in a small village so there probably was nothing else.  

I ended up in Gloucester and had two lovely daughters and of course I found them a fantastic local teacher Miss Susan Thomlins. My elder one went through to pointe work and teaching level of tap until school took over and she had to give up.

My younger one did very well too but was not so keen and opted out aged about 10. Then a mum’s ballet class started and I joined straight away. Loved it. Numbers dwindled and a tap class started instead and I joined that. I absolutely adored tap dancing and kept it up till I was seventy and moved counties to be near my elder daughter. I was the only mum by then and just tagged in at the back of various children’s classes.

In Cheshire during Covid, I luckily happened upon Silver Swans online and bought some pink leather ballet shoes as my red ones had worn a hole and have been with Miss Johanna ever since. I have a bad back now and have graduated to the Seated Swans. It’s just marvellous to be able to join in and keep going at home.  

That just about sums up my ballet life in a nutshell.

Marilyn Balderstone

Aged 78 

For me I have discovered more richly this sense of happiness since teaching Silver Swans. I have two classes in Leicester both with contrasting dynamics and both bringing a different perspective and requirements from me as a teacher.

One group is based at Age UK in the City Centre. Currently my youngest Swan is 58 and the oldest is 90, they are incredibly committed to the class and many have been attending since I first started in 2021, on average there are about 20 Swans each week. My favourite part of a class has to be at the start when they are getting ready, sometimes I just stand and listen – the chatter is excited, the asking after each others health, holidays and families is heart warming, it’s the sense of connection and support which is vital to them. The dance brings them all together but they are all there for different reasons, some danced when they were younger, some never had the chance and are following the dream but all of them love to dance, love to achieve and love to learn. Keeping the body and mind active in the older generation is so important and this class is inspirational in its desire to keep going and keep doing more, we have taken inspiration from Coppélia, La Fille Mal Gardée, Swan Lake, and Romeo and Juliet and they have embraced the choreography and the music ,we have also laughed – we do that a lot its an essential part of the class! So many of these ladies and gentlemen have been through life changing events in the last few years – bereavement, illnesses and more but so many have said “I just want to come back and dance, I love my dance”

We should never underestimate the far reaching impact that participating or teaching these classes has on us all and I am grateful that I can be part of something where I can share the joy and see the joy.

Ginnette Brookes

Support needed

This email came in from Natasha Tobin while we were putting this edition together and we though it might be a good opportunity for our readers to respond. Regardless, we'll look at answering some of these questions in the next edition:

In my classes, our lovely dancers have talked about how they might buy tee-shirts and Silver Swans skirts etc and if there is a discount for students? Perhaps a feature might be interesting about how the Silver Swans kit came about, particularly the new Silver Swans products developed with Freed. 

After menopause our bodies change quite a bit. It would be interesting to learn about any research that was conducted with mature dancers and the licensees themselves, with the goal of designing items in the right size that fit well and made them feel great dancing. Most everyday kit is geared to young dance students' body shapes up to 14/XL! Also, one area I often discuss after our various classes with the dancers aged 50s-80s is footwear for ballet classes. Ballet shoes, even with the full supporting sole can offer little support for mature dancers - the fat pad under the ball of the foot thins with age, arches need support etc. Some dancers need a little heel, or more width in their shoe or padding - indicating jazz shoes or dance sneakers. 

Although many of our dance students don't always know about the options available to them and the importance of being fitted at a dance store. 

All the best and thanks, Natasha

Celebrate the Spirit of Silver Swans – In Your Own Spotlight

This year, the Silver Swans Celebration will take place on a smaller scale — but with no less heart, elegance, or joy.

Rather than hosting a single large event, we’re inviting Silver Swan Licensees from across the globe to shine a light on the unique character of their own dancers and communities. We encourage you to share a filmed performance that captures the spirit, energy, and essence of your Silver Swans. 

Whether it’s a graceful solo, a joyful group piece, or a behind-the-scenes glimpse of your class in action, we’d love to celebrate the beautiful diversity and creativity of Silver Swans everywhere. 

Submissions will be featured across our digital platforms, spotlighting the talent, stories, and connections that make the Silver Swans network so special. 

Stay tuned for details on how to submit your performance – and let’s keep dancing, inspiring, and celebrating together. 

#SilverSwansCelebration

Silver Swans Mini Summer Series 2025

Join us for a Mini Summer Series of Silver Swans classes at RAD headquarters in Battersea. Whether you want to experience what it’s like to take classes with us or are looking to stay in the studio during the summer break, we have three classes available for dancers of all levels.

Find out more and book.

WIN A T-SHIRT!

Winners from the last edition

I’ve always loved to see professional ballet productions but had never seen a show like this before. I was completely blown away by these women, some with health conditions worse than my own and some much older than me!

They were incredible & so was Rebecca Yates’ commitment to them as well as her dancing! But most of all, it was their sheer joy of dancing that inspired me to start myself. I loved every minute of that show!

I started with a seated class to aid my recovery & soon moved onto regular Silver Swans classes & have never looked back! I’m not a dancer as such but I now experience that joy & love of my ‘dancing’ in every class!

Thank you

Jo Davis

Aged 62

A ballet princess

At eight years old in 1962 my mother ordered a weekly comic for me, Princess. Thereby began my love for ballet, as the Princess Ballet Book soon became available. I would carefully cut out beautiful pictures of the dancers and stick, with glue, in a scrapbook.

In 1964, on a small black and white TV, I saw Margot Fonteyn dance with Rudolph Nureyev. My parents didn't have much money but how grateful I was when they said I could attend ballet classes!

I had to catch a bus to the town. I was so nervous but I'll always remember that smell as I entered the dance room, the beautiful mirrors & barres all around. That first time, I wore my bridesmaid dress. But best of all, had my first ballet shoes & again that lovely leather aroma.

Now, at 70, I'm still at weekly ballet classes and my dream is to dance in RAD Covent Garden.

Thank you,

Eileen (Somerset)

Editor's note: Eileen, We searched for a picture of you and couldn't find one. If we forgot to ask, then please accept our apologies. Send one in to us and we'll include it in the next edition.

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