Here’s another great profile of Carina Perry, who takes classes at the Dance Hub in South Africa. Susan, who owns the studio, wrote a guest post for ABP a few months ago here.
When did you start doing ballet as an adult?
January 2012
Did you ever take lessons as a kid?
Yes I had lessons for plus/minus 2 years when I was 9.
Why did you decide to take ballet as an adult?
I knew I had to do some exercise but don’t like the gym. So I was looking for adult tap dance classes and couldn’t find, And then I discover Dance Hub and that was a new exciting phase in my life.
Where do you take classes?
Not that far from home at a gym.
What is your favorite part about ballet?
Discipline in another fun way, lots of laughing and meeting new people. Good exercise and toning of the body. Last year I did a pilates class also and that helped a lot to becoming more fit.
What is your least favorite part?
When I miss a class due to guests, illness or work.
Who/What is your ballet inspiration?
I always loved ballet, don’t need inspiration, enjoy all of it.
What motivates you to keep dancing?
It changed my way of thinking, in the beginning I couldn’t concentrate on nothing, just thinking of work. Therefore its good for body and mind.
Do you take any other dance classes?
Currently I’m doing one absolute beginners class and two beginners classes during the week.
What are your hobbies outside of ballet?
Photography, gardening, crocheting and knitting
What advice would you like to give to those who want to start ballet or have just started?
Never give up, you don’t feel on top of the world the first couple of months. I struggled so much in the beginning, nothing make sense. And after 4 months I started feeling more comfortable. I’m 42 years old and did no exercises except from running and smoked 30 cigarettes a day, I stop smoking in my forth month of ballet and still going strong. I gain a lot of weight after stopped smoking but still I’m proud of myself.
Anything else you’d like to add?
An extra bonus is Susan, (owner of the dance school) allows me to take photos of the more advance dancers and there shows and that is so great. I’m privilege to combine two hobbies and grateful that my health is still good to do ballet. Susan is the actual soul of the ballet school, she is such an inspiration, she started with no experience and is a great adult ballet dancer today. She is good fun and put a lot of effort into the school. I’m privilege to be part of Dance Hub 2013.
One of the photos taken by Carina.
