This week’s profile is of Don Wilson, one of my classmates at Philly Dance Fitness who started at our studio 6 months ago. Read more about him below:
When did you start doing ballet as an adult?
6 months ago I began taking Beginner 1 at Philly Dance Fitness.
Did you ever take lessons as a kid?
No, but wish I had!
Why did you decide to take ballet as an adult?
There are SO many reasons… For starters, I love to dance! Working at a desk most days, it’s nice to have a fun form of exercise. We men also tend to be a little too stiff in our general movements, so another goal was to move more fluidly and gracefully in everyday life. With only the reasons above, any dance probably would have been great but there’s just something about ballet that’s therapeutic. It’s so graceful, requires so much strength and concentration that it’s impossible to be thinking about problems at work or home when taking the class or practicing at home.
Where do you take classes?
Philly Dance Fitness, and occasionally at 954 Dance Movement Collective.
What is your favorite part about ballet?
The beauty, grace and attention to every detail. No other form of dance seems so disciplined or polished.
What is your least favorite part?
Trying to remember all the steps in an exercise. Trying to remember the steps while also focusing on how to do them is really difficult
Who/What is your ballet inspiration?
Eleanor Pulaski was a friend of the family and ballet instructor. She was in her 90’s when she passed and she was always one of the most physically-fit and graceful people I’d ever known. She was polished in every way.
What motivates you to keep dancing?
It’s fun! Also to become a better dancer; I have a lot of energy when dancing but without the right dash of style and grace it’s not always a good thing (partially joking). I’d really like to learn to be more graceful and to have that “snap” that good dancers have, that they appear to magically move from one position to another with no transition and appearing to have exerted no energy in the process.
Do you take any other dance classes?
Not currently but plan to try a West Coast Swing class in the near-future.
What are your hobbies outside of ballet?
Too many to list… lately it’s been community cleanup and helping research novel methods to produce biodiesel. I also enjoy riding motorcycles with friends and building things (metal or woodworking).
What advice would you like to give to those who want to start ballet or have just started?
Adult Beginner classes are exactly that, they’re fun and for people who don’t necessarily bend so well anymore, so don’t take it so seriously that it evokes anxiety. Also don’t compare yourself to the people in the class who are really good, they probably took classes for many years when they were young. Watch those people who have talent and learn from them by watching and copying all the little details that truly make their moves beautiful, things like hand and finger positions or the way they tilt their head…
Anything else you’d like to add?
One of the benefits I did not expect from taking ballet is how good I feel after every class. There’s something instinctually soothing about dancing with a group of people who share a common interest. No matter how wound-up I may be from work or life, after every class I always feel great!
__________________________________________________
