Everything began with a music box. In her childhood days, Mary Chan was captivated by a graceful ballerina figure perched on top of it, which pirouetted each time the mechanism was cranked.
"Admiring the small doll, I could spend entire days spinning that toy," recalls Chan, who in 2024 had the opportunity to realize a childhood aspiration — learning ballet for herself.
Chan, turning 80 this year, was one of many retirees along with other adults aged 55 and older who enrolled in the Hong Kong Ballet’s latest community engagement initiative called Silver Ballet. This program was introduced as part of their efforts. 45th anniversary last year The courses and three-day camps are tailored for individuals who typically aim to slow down rather than get warmed up, let alone stand on their tiptoes.
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Trainers demonstrate basic positions, movements, and routines at a slow tempo. The aim is not to produce spinning solo performers but to transform ballet into an enjoyable and beneficial activity. This approach helps enhance posture, flexibility, and balance for individuals of all ages who wish to dance.
“I genuinely love dancing and appreciate attending dance shows,” states Chan. “The idea of learning ballet never crossed my mind; thus, becoming a dancer seemed unattainable. When I was younger, things were quite distinct. Both my mother and father encouraged me to concentrate on academics. Even at friends’ parties, I needed to be accompanied by an elder sibling.”
Although Chan could be the eldest member of the Silver Ballet group, this softly spoken elder is perhaps the most exuberant among them. While she lacks the agility for toe dancing or the stamina to hold an arabesque position, she moves with the grace and suppleness of someone decades younger than herself.
She recalls, “As a child, I watched a film featuring the renowned British ballerina Margot Fonteyn. Later, during the 1970s, I had the opportunity to see performances by Russian ballet companies. Their gracefulness and smooth, flowing motions captivated me.”
I began exploring various dance styles after turning 60," shares this dedicated homebody. "I became involved with numerous community organizations and events providing lessons, focusing particularly on Chinese folk and traditional dances. The opportunity to delve into ballet truly thrilled me.
Similar to many contemporary creative and business approaches, the concept for Silver Ballet emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, Wu Zhong, the artistic director of the Hong Kong Ballet, Septime Webre He motivated his team to explore innovative ideas, aiming to introduce ballet to the public despite people being unable to attend live shows.
Heidi Lee Oi-yee, the executive director of Hong Kong Ballet, states, 'Theaters are not the sole means through which we fulfill our mission.' The pandemic pushed them to broaden their audience base and highlight their skills. With quarantine measures beginning in January 2020, they had established their online platform by March.'
Following the success of the videos aimed at seniors, the local charity Po Leung Kuk invited the ballet company to organize post-Covid performances at community centers for seniors. Encouraged by the enthusiastic feedback, Lee, along with Vency Kwok, who serves as the senior education and community outreach manager, decided to expand this initiative further.
“We organized workshop camps for children, followed by teenagers and adults,” states Kwok. “It seemed only logical to consider, ‘ What about those who are older than Generation X? '"
Lee mentions that this particular audience segment was "one the ballet hasn't truly focused on significantly in the past."
Hong Kong seems to prioritize the younger generation, and it appears that the elder population might feel somewhat neglected, particularly within the realm of art,” she remarks. “Ballet often gets seen as something less relevant for seniors. However, one positive outcome from these efforts has been their revived enthusiasm.”
Kwok, whose previous work focused mainly on promoting dance education in schools, shifted her attention towards developing a program tailored for individuals new to ballet, particularly those who may lack the endurance and flexibility required for rigorous exercises. To create an appropriate syllabus featuring age-friendly ballet moves, she sought guidance from the Dance Medicine Research Clinic at Chinese University. However, for certain older participants, what draws them to ballet is precisely the challenge, effort, and complexity involved.
Despite not being able to execute the movements effectively, I put in considerable effort," states Chan, who participated in the first-ever workshop camp. "My bones and tendons are stiff, and I lack muscle mass, yet I persist. Although I tire easily, I remain content, so it’s all worthwhile.
The aim isn’t to be the top dancer; it’s more about maintaining health and enhancing physical well-being.
Coach Kwok emphasizes that "safety is our top priority. We stress to everyone that if a teacher recommends something and they feel unable to perform it, they shouldn’t attempt it at all. Getting hurt isn’t worthwhile. However, it’s wonderful to observe students who may lack coordination putting in significant effort, practicing diligently, stretching themselves both literally and figuratively, and giving dancing their best shot."
The initial in-studio performance of the Silver Ballet ensemble took place last March in the rehearsal hall of the theater. The Hong Kong Cultural Centre's Main Theater Over the course of three days, two distinct groups consisting mainly of novices participated in crafting costumes and mastering a series of dance moves. Swan Lake Following this, all 41 students participated in a demonstration for the invited families and friends.
"Staying occupied and energetic is beneficial, yet maintaining social connections is equally vital," asserts Kwok. "Ballet presents mental challenges as well; considering all the steps one must remember, precise placements on stage, and synchronization with music—it keeps the mind sharp. I believe this could aid in preventing conditions such as dementia. The ethos of our ballet company has always been: ‘always moving forward.’”
The Hong Kong Ballet is not the pioneering group to broaden its educational offerings to older adults. The United Kingdom’s Royal Academy of Dance conducts Silver Swans workshops. According to Kwok, “There are indeed adult ballet sessions available elsewhere and in various institutions locally; however, these typically cater to individuals who have had prior dance experience.”
Following the inaugural Silver Ballet camp, the program grew to incorporate a sequence of weekly sessions. It wasn’t limited to female participants either. Retired high school instructor Derek Chan, aged 64, felt no reservation about being the sole male participant since it satisfied his long-held interest.
He believes that ballet training ought to begin when one is young, as was the case with his daughter, which led him to think he had missed the optimal time to learn.
I'm grateful for the insights gained from the Hong Kong Ballet. It has instilled a sense of pride and confidence when performing in front of my child, friends, and fellow spectators.
A fervent student named Mimie Lau Siu-wah has emerged. Previously working as a real estate executive, she unexpectedly had ample free time after being advised to retire during the peak of the pandemic. Realizing she'd overlooked physical activity throughout her life, Lau resolved to improve her hunched stance. Currently, her dedication is such that she even postponed vacation trips just to make it to class.
"All of my muscles felt dormant until I reached 60 years old. Currently, I am 66," states Lau. "Initially, I began practicing Pilates. I figured, ‘Alright, now I have plenty of free time and feel quite bored.’ Given my nature, I require an activity to stay engaged. Upon seeing The Butterfly Lovers ballet Last year, I came across an advertisement in the program for Silver Ballet. Immediately, I knew I wanted to participate. I am someone who makes swift decisions. In about five minutes, I had completed everything. I simply reserved my spot online.
I could tell my posture wasn’t correct since I hunched over the computer whether sitting or standing. Additionally, I noticed my bones seemed to be fusing. Whenever I got a massage, they would say I felt as rigid as a piece of wood.
Similar to many of her fellow Silver troupe members, Lau didn't have the opportunity to dance during her youth. She explains, "My mother wouldn’t allow it, claiming it would make my shinbones very large. Nowadays, I understand this only occurs if one fails to engage their other muscle groups appropriately."
When the 41 students took the stage for their condensed performance, Swan Lake ," adds Kwok, "some relatives were absolutely wonderful." They arrived holding signs, much like devoted fans of pop stars. The entire family would join in, bringing along flowers as well.
A camper shed tears after the conclusion of the event. She mentioned, ‘I didn’t imagine being capable of accomplishing such a thing within merely three days.’ Her child continuously expressed gratitude, mentioning how delighted she looked. The girl shared with me, ‘My mom took my siblings and me for ballet lessons when we were young, and I never imagined we’d get to perform ballet together. Today we did exactly that.’
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