Dancing through life

More adults and seniors in Singapore are picking up ballet

- Sherlyn Sim

When Ms Kat Lam, 62, took her granddaughter to her first ballet class in 2019, the worried four-year-old refused to let go of her hands.

Hoping to soothe the girl, the teacher invited Ms Lam to join the children's class.

While she was hesitant then, these days, Ms Lam, a semi-retiree, takes bi-weekly classes at The Ballet Academy in Upper Thomson Road.

The grandmother of six told The Straits Times: "Since I was young, I have always admired ballet for its costumes and graceful movements. As my parents could not afford to send me to classes, I am fulfilling my childhood dream now."

She is one of many picking up ballet as adults.

Ballet schools told ST there has been an uptick in adult enrolment, with students of both genders ranging from their early 20s to 60s. About half of them had no ballet experience.

Singapore Ballet has seen a 30 to 40 per cent increase in students in its adult ballet classes between 2022 and 2024. Classes start at $20 for 90 minutes and cover levels from beginner to advanced.

At City Ballet Academy Vaganova in Tanglin Mall, enrolments for its adult classes surged from fewer than 10 students when it opened in 2022 to over 100 by October 2024.

The school, which teaches the Russian ballet method Vaganova, has expanded from two to six weekly classes to cope with the demand. Another two weekly classes will be added by mid-November.

Its school director and principal Ilya Shcherbakov attributes the growth to an increased awareness of fitness among adults, many of whom are looking to improve their posture.

The Covid-19 lockdown also enabled many to explore ballet as a hobby or rekindle their childhood passion for dance through online videos, he said.