Beautiful classical music fills the supper room at Whitianga Town Hall. With their heads held high and core engaged, a group of mature ladies and one gentleman, are doing pliés and tendus, rise and waltzing. This is a Silver Swans ballet class and it’s right here in Whitianga. We are lucky to be taught by the very accomplished and experienced Marilyn Swan.
The aptly named “Silver Swans” ballet classes were developed by the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and have been designed for the over- 55’s. “Whatever your age, this class provides wonderful benefits with elegant exercise to beautiful music,” says Marilyn.
“Some of the benefits are developing good posture, self-esteem and the chance to make new friends in a safe and encouraging environment.”
Silver Swans classes are also registered through NZ’s “Live Stronger for Longer Programme” which adheres to the principles of keeping active and healthy as we age with an emphasis on strength and balance.
Marilyn has run RAD ballet schools nurturing young dancers in Motueka and Hawkes’ Bay for 43 years. She and her husband ‘retired’ to Coromandel but of course with such a passion for dance and teaching, retirement was not an option for Marilyn. Since 2019 she has continued with classes in both Coromandel town and Colville and for the past 8 months, Marilyn has come over the hill to teach in Whitianga.
Aside from travelling and living in Darwin for four months of the year, I have been lucky enough to attend a few of Marilyn’s Whitianga classes. From the age of four ballet was the training ground for my continuing love of dance in many genres. With Marilyn at the helm here in Whitianga, my memory has been revived in terms of both the ballet steps and the French terminology and their meanings. All of these we had to remember and quote to the somewhat rather scarey examiners of my childhood RAD journey, when we would go alone into a room with just the examiner and a pianist.
None of this is part of the Silver Swans. Yes, the terminology and the steps are familiar, but there are no examiners and there is no pressure to remember it all, just the shared joy and camaraderie with fellow dancers, some who have had a ballet journey and others who are learning it from scratch.
With passion, skill and finesse, Marilyn teaches and guides us. If you’ve ever dreamed of dancing, or simply want to move with grace to beautiful music, Silver Swans class welcomes you. People of all ages, levels, and experience are invited to join.
Marilyn Swan.
