Discover 5 reasons why a ballet barre class is a great option for adults who want to improve fitness, strength, flexibility, and grace.

Want more stability, strength, and control in your dancing? Start on the floor. photo by Kevin Taylor Being a fabulous dancer is not just about technique and tricks. It’s also about musicality, expression, and artistry—but those things are so much easier to focus on when you’ve done the work to build a strong core, posture and alignment, turnout, stability and strength, mobility, and flexibility. There are plenty of ways to achieve these objectives, but have you ever consider

Experience it for yourself at our Adult Ballet Intensive this April (2025) Anna Rybakova, who will share her passion for Character Dance at our April 2025 Adult Ballet Intensive When I was a younger ballet student, I used to think character dances were a bit boring and simple. But since I started Flamenco, a dance that’s alive in every stomp and clap, I’ve realised the richness and complexity of the dance traditions that have inspired character dance. The fiery footwork, rhyt

In this post, you'll learn about: the purpose of pre-pointe class what to expect in a pre-pointe class the journey from pre-pointe to...

15 reasons for adult ballet dancers to take repertoire class Could you imagine training tirelessly for a sport like football, soccer, or...

One of the most exciting elements of ballet are the steps of elevation, collectively known as ‘allegro’ steps. ‘Allegro’ is an Italian word used to describe music that is fast and lively, whereas in ballet, it refers to the types of steps where the dancer leaves the floor. In a standard ballet technique class, the ‘allegro’ section comes towards the end of the class, once the dancer has completed all the relevant movements to prepare their muscles for the extreme effort re

The pirouette is one of the most iconic ballet steps, and one that many new ballet dancers aspire to achieve. Jazz and contemporary dancers also perform pirouettes. The main difference between a jazz pirouette and a ballet pirouette is that jazz pirouettes are performed in parallel, and ballet pirouettes in turnout. The pirouette is a movement that continues to provide challenges to experienced dancers as well, because you can always strive for more turns, to develop by cha

photo by Kevin Taylor Van Ngo joined Dragonfly Dance in January 2023 during our inaugural Summer Dance Program. In October 2023,...

The position 'B Plus' from the Balanchine Technique In this post: Why knowing different systems of ballet matters The different systems ...

In this post: What is Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) Is PBT for you? 6 ways PBT can improve your dancing Equipment needed for PBT How to sign up to PBT at Dragonfly Dance There are myriad ways to improve your ballet technique, one of which is PBT, which stands for Progressing Ballet Technique. In April this year (2023), three of Dragonfly Dance teachers undertook PBT teacher training so that we can offer our dancers the benefits of this training system to adult dancers i

In this post, you'll discover: what we mean by 'ballet line" why line is important the line in arabesque common habits that can distort line how to achieve a good line in ballet Have you ever wondered about the term "line" in the world of ballet? It's a term you might hear, but wonder what it means. You'll often hear it in the context of praising a dancer's grace or highlighting areas for improvement. What is Ballet Line? In the ballet lexicon, "line" refers to an imaginary

Hell, yes! Here’s how … Dancing en pointe is a dream for many adults, but many wonder if it’s a realistic dream after a certain age....

After you’ve read this article, you’ll know what to expect when you go to class, and you’ll have an understanding of how this technique...

Balance can be tricky, especially in arabesque en l’air, so I thought I’d share some of my tips for maintaining your turnout, creating a...

What are your biggest concerns about starting ballet as an adult? Is it that you are too old, or don’t have the right body? Are you...

Mardi Daniell is the mother of three children under 8, a dance teacher, and runs her own dance studio, which keeps her incredibly busy. ...

Learn the basics of ballet with our FREE mini course – click to signup Do you feel that? A little tugging sensation in your heart? A...

In her early 40s, Vic was pretty happy with life. She had a wonderful family and a voice over business that she loved and ran with her...

Millie is a mother of two who recently turned 40, and works in a business franchise she and her husband own called Country Brewers. ...

Dr Cathy Chittleborough is a busy mother and lecturer in public health and epidemiology. She’s always been a ballet dancer, but instead...