This week’s adult ballerina profile is of David Chapman, who bravely started ballet at the age of 57 two years ago. Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions!
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Adult Ballerina Project: Did you ever take lessons as a kid?
David Chapman: No–dance wasn’t on the agenda for anyone in my grammar school let alone boys, I played cricket and rugby.
ABP: Why did you decide to take ballet as an adult?
DC: My wife and I always followed Strictly Come Dancing on the television and I’ve always danced “freestyle” with enthusiasm. We thought about taking ballroom lessons but I wanted a real challenge that involved athleticism, acting and dancing which I could do on my own and with others – ballet ticked all the boxes and we go together (my wife took ballet class ino her teens and so did our daughters).
ABP: Where do you take classes?
DC: In a small friendly dance studio called Dance Projection, Writtle, Essex.
ABP: What is your favorite part about ballet?
DC: The physical and technical challenges as well as the opportunity to perform on stage.
ABP: What is your least favorite part?
DC: Not being very musical and the time it takes me to learn dance moves.
ABP: Who/What is your ballet inspiration?
DC: The first live ballet I saw was Romeo and Juliet with Rudolph Nureyev in the 1970s. It astonished me and his was the most exciting live performance I have ever seen or will probably ever see.
ABP: What motivates you to keep dancing?
DC: The prospect of old age and infirmity.
ABP: Do you take any other dance classes?
DC: No but I take aerobics classes and play five a side soccer.
ABP: What are your hobbies outside of ballet?
DC: Military history and comedy but ballet has more or less taken over my life outside my job as 
managing partner of a law firm – I have even written ballet into our local dramatic productions so I can perform on stage with ballerinas!
ABP: What advice would you like to give to those who want to start ballet or have just started?
DC: To men: get fit, learn to count and the kit is a uniform you get used to.
ABP: Anything else you’d like to add?
DC: For me, ballet is the most dignified and masculine of disciplines.
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