SILVER LININGS
Our Silver Linings Series is designed for dancers 50 years and older (although anyone is welcome to join!). The focus in this series is on enjoying dance for the sake of movement and expression and not necessarily athletic progression. The movements and exercises taught are low-impact with less focus on jumping and turning, and more focus on musicality, flowing movement, and artistry. This class is not only fantastic for older dancers, but also for anyone coming back from an injury, experiencing chronic illness or pain, or just someone looking for a more restorative and relaxing dance experience.
We currently have a single Silver Linings Ballet class and we will add other styles as interest grows! This class is designed for a Novice/Intermediate level – dancers who are Absolute Beginners to Ballet might benefit from taking a course of Beginner Ballet first, and then progressing to Silver Linings Ballet. Please contact us for help deciding on the best place to start.
Our Silver Linings classes are also scheduled in the afternoon, since some of our older members find they have more flexibility during the day time. We are still in the beginning phases of this program, so we would love to hear from you if you have questions or suggestions about the styles and times being offered!
TAKE A CLASS
We only have 1 Weekly Class for Silver Linings Ballet right now, based on interest. If you’d like to see more Silver Linings Offerings, please sign up for the Interest List below!
| SILVER LININGS BALLET Wednesdays, 3:00 – 4:00 pm |
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| Designed for people ages 50+ with some experience in Ballet |
| Beginners are encouraged to commit to one term of training in Beginner Ballet to get a strong foundation in the basics before joining |
| Students receive regular Ballet exercises at a Novice/Intermediate level with accommodations made for older bodies (no grand pliรฉs, no jumping, slower turns, etc.) See information below about our Novice and Intermediate levels of Ballet |
| NOVICE BALLET (1-3 Years Experience) |
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| Designed for Beginning Dancers who have some experience but still require instruction on basic technique & elements and need more support arranging steps into combinations |
| Students reinforce all the basics learned in Beginner Ballet, while learning more difficult steps & complicated combinations to progress in technique & memory skills |
| Students are given fair amount of support in the form of Class Demonstrators, review of exercises, and lots of repetition Students are expected to start developing the skill of memorization in order to perform some exercises without demonstration (“off-book”) All exercises are carefully reviewed each class – there is no expectation of memorizing classwork week-to-week |
| *A moderate level of fitness, strength & flexibility is recommended for safe practice in these classes, but custom modifications will be given to individual dancers as needed |
| INTERMEDIATE BALLET (3-5 Years Experience) |
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| Designed for more Experienced Dancers who have a good understanding of the basic technique and steps and are able to put together combinations independently |
| Students receive a mix of in-depth instruction & faster-paced exercises to strengthen technique and develop in fitness, flexibility, and artistry |
| Students are given less support in the form of Class Demonstrators, review of exercises, and repetition Students are expected to have the skill of quick memorization in order to perform most exercises without demonstration (“off-book”) All exercises will be quickly reviewed each class – there is no expectation of memorizing classwork week-to-week, but students should develop familiarity with exercises over the Term |
| *A moderate level of fitness, strength & flexibility is recommended for safe practice in these classes, but custom modifications will be given to individual dancers as needed |
| RELATED OPTIONS |
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| For fitness conditioning & flexibility training, check out Bunions & Balance or Body Break |
| Dive deeper into the world of intensive dance training with our Dance Mastery Program |
| Create your very own choreographical piece with our Path to Performance Program |
| Customize your experience with our Private Lessons! |
PREPARE FOR CLASS
The Basics
- No large hanging jewelry
- No chewing gum
- Avoid strong fragrances
- No food or drink in the studio, other than water (in the lounge is fine)
- Bring a water bottle!
First Time?
Don’t go out and buy anything yet! All styles of dance can very easily be done in comfortable work-out clothes and socks or bare feet. Once you’ve decided you want to commit to the class, you can purchase the relevant dancewear (see below).
Where to Buy
Dance Street is the only dancewear distributor in Saskatoon, but they have two locations – one east side, and one downtown. We strongly recommend you visit the eastside location, off of 8th Street, as they have the best selection. Check out their website for more details. If you’re unsure about what to buy, they will help you! Just show them the lists laid out below, and they will get you exactly what you need.
*Dance Alive Studios is slowly building our own store of dance attire that is size-inclusive, accessible, and comfortable (some products available online, some in-studio). Feel free to contact us with specific requests to see what we have in store, and visit our DAS Store for products we’re currently selling.
*REGARDING GENDER*
Attire in the dance world, specifically Ballet, can be inherently gendered. The attire listed for each style is given in terms of “feminine” and “masculine” suggestions when appropriate. Students are welcome to choose whatever combination of attire they feel comfortable in.
HAIR
Anything comfortable, preferably pulled off the face
CLOTHES
Anything comfortable, as long as you can move in it. See Ballet Attire for more style-specific details.
SHOES
Anything comfortable, bare feet, socks, or Ballet slippers are all acceptable. See Ballet Attire for more style-specific details.