Leanne Albers

Hello, I’m Leanne. You’ll see me on the reception desk and in the some of the dance classes.

I am a happy grandma of 8, crazy fur-mum of 2 cats, and a dabbler in many crafty pursuits. But my passion is, and always has been, dancing. According to my parents, I wanted to be a ballerina when I was 2, pestering them constantly to do ballet lessons. The stars finally aligned when I was 8. The Perfect Academy of Dance offered lunchtime ballet classes at my primary school, and my ballet training began. I thrived.

Life didn’t always allow me to pursue dancing. I had a 5 year break to attend university interstate, returning to dance at age 22. Another break after my 2nd child was born. I returned to ‘adult jazz’ lessons when I was 38. Eyebrows were raised when I asked to do senior level technical classes in both ballet and jazz, and hopefully exams. ‘Hmmm, I am not sure how you’ll cope. You’ll be dancing with teenagers’ was the response.

Fortunately I wasn’t the only adult doing technical classes. I had Jo in classes with me, but it was still daunting to keep up with the physical demands of dancing at that level, at my age, with teenagers (including my son and daughter). Around that time Jo started Move Through Life, and I found a ‘home’ where I belonged. I went to classes at Glengowrie and later Morphett Vale, and performed in eMerge and 1-2-3. Then life threw another spanner at me and dancing was put on hold indefinitely.

Yet here I am. Again! Working here and seeing dancers of all ages and abilities leaving classes with smiles on their faces is wonderful. Returning to dance for a third time at 62 is a dream come true. My strength and flexibility are improving, and my brain and feet are starting to work together again, it takes time. My passion and enjoyment are still there, maybe even more so than before. I love moving to music again in a supportive and encouraging environment.

What more is there to say? Life is too short to have regrets. Just give it a go and have fun while you do it.