Feet First! Thank You Elancé

I am overwhelmingly grateful to all the staff and students for being so welcoming, inclusive, accommodating and accepting…(& so much more !)

18475 days. A knee injury. Plenty of ‘drive by’s’ and these (Hobbit feet) have got me here today. Thankfully, the G&T responsible for my injury was not lost in the ‘dance floor incident’ but possibly the chance to dance again after 25ish years was. At 40-something it dawned on me in ‘lightbulb moment’ fashion that I could possibly return to ballet in an appropriate environment!

As my knee improved, I resolved to just ‘enquire’ at Elancé. I did. I walked up the stairs at Camberwell Rd and all the doubts/neurotic fears, etc., had the edge taken off them with my first step through the door; much more than I possibly imagined.

Getting me through the door (….push? pull? automatic? use the doorknob?! …huh?……oh!) is always the biggest challenge, and still is …. but I managed once and have returned each week because ballet sparks my enthusiasm like nothing else (the ‘dance floor incident’ made me realise that …). Ballet at Elancé has provided me with such essential support- not just with tuition, but giving me strength and motivation to keep my head above water while I endure some reasonably extreme personal ‘challenges’.

I’m often overwhelmed…..and possibly dangerous to others with my ‘directional issues’! But ballet has reinforced persistence and attention to detail alongside an acceptance of what I have (..as in body parts and brain cells….). The fact that Elancé encourages the idea of “use what you’ve got!” is priceless when it’s far too easy to focus on the deficit.

I hope this helps in the decision making for anyone wanting to begin or return to ballet. It’s absolutely challenging – no doubt! But safe and nurturing here. It’s exercise, brain training, art, therapy and joy.

Elancé has made years of ‘I wish’ possible……….

(And just so I don’t offend Mum… my parents are not Hobbits…but I do have Mum’s bunions and Dad’s instep!)

BY SONYA M – ELANCÉ AMBASSADOR