![]() ![]() She teaches regular classes, masterclasses and mini ballet retreats around the world in places such as Maldives, Croatia and Ibiza. Karis runs En Avant Ballet ('en avant', fittingly, is the term in ballet for move forward). There’s no body shaming, screaming or stick waving like Miss Lydia Grant from Fame (even though I do secretly wish someone would say to me, “If you want fame, well fame costs and this is where you start paying…in SWEAT”). The opposite is true here absolutely no dance experience is needed. You can dance in socks if you like equally, you can invest in ballet shoes and let your inner Darcey Bussell shine. Karis is a healer and creates a safe, warm and encouraging space for her students. So many people are put off coming to the barre for fear that they will be mocked or expected to dance next to people who are ex-professionals or people who clearly know what they are doing. The injury ended her career and saw her having to learn to walk again. “Anyone who steps into the studio is one of the bravest people,” says Karis, who broke her spine at 19. As a workout, I was shocked how quickly the definition in my legs came back and how I felt tired and sweaty without jumping around getting breathless and as though I was going to have a heart attack. ![]() ![]() Dancing made me feel free, like a kid again and had a transcendent quality that is easy to fall in love with. The soaring classical music and slow control, the ability to get out of my head and into my body and soul in a positive and loving way was addictive. So, the next day, I looked up 'classical ballet for adults' and booked myself into a class run by Royal Ballet School-trained ex-ballerina Karis Scarlette.įrom that first class, I knew I had found my exercise soulmate. As parents, we sit for hours watching our children playing and being happy I wanted that feeling back. One day, in a cold church hall, I watched my five-year-old twin daughters at their ballet class giggling and twirling with glee, dressed in the exact same blue uniform I used to wear. I remembered how much I loved to dance. The soaring classical music and slow control, the ability to get out of my head and into my body and soul in a positive way was addictive. ![]() Adult ballet has exploded over the last few years and I’m not talking about Barre (frowned on by purists for being hard on joints and its potential, they say, to cause injuries) I’m talking about the classical ballet of your childhood: good toes, naughty toes and the Sugar Plum Fairy type of ballet. If I’m anything like this lot, I won’t be knitting booties and watching Corrie but pirouetting around the world in five-star resorts, fit, toned and with a jeté in my step. At the barre with me is an eclectic mix of men and women, a married couple – retired doctors who are climbing mountains and touring the world sampling different types of dance, a nurse and her husband who is a pastry chef from France with great arches and a lady who flew all the way from Australia to join us on this very special En Avant ballet retreat.Īt 40, I’m the baby of the group and it’s amazing to see what my 50s and 60s might hold. Roosters cackle and call out and the classical music sweeps through my body and I feel happy and peaceful. As I sink into my demi plié, I look out onto a Balearic orange grove. ![]()
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