‘Slightly creaky but devoted’: 4 reasons the over 50s should copy Queen Camilla and try ballet for fitness

Timothée Chalamet may not be a fan, but the royals really are. During a reception to celebrate to English National Ballet’s 75^th anniversary last November, Queen Camilla, 78, revealed that she practices the art herself. On receiving a gift of pointe shoes she joked: ‘I’ll be putting them to practice and making the rest of them all jealous. Thank you.’

She may not have been speaking entirely in jest. Broadcaster Angela Rippon, also at the reception, explained that: ‘I persuaded her to become a Silver Swan and she takes the classes very seriously because we were just talking about the way in which dancing really is a brilliant way of getting fit and keeping fit.’

The ‘Silver Swan’ ballet classes rolled out by The Royal Academy of Dance are specifically designed for learners aged 55 and over to improve mobility, balance and posture. Classes are held regularly across the UK as well as in Australia and Canada.

You don’t have to be a royal to join, but in 2023, the royal family shared a photo of Queen Camilla posing with a class of Swans, along with a message penned by her: ‘A veritable flock of dancers has swanned into the Royal Academy of Dance… As a devoted, if slightly creaky, Silver Swan myself, I very much wanted to send you my warmest wishes for a wonderful day of fellowship and fun, celebrating the huge benefits that ballet has brought to our lives.’

Queen Camilla, then The Duchess of Cornwall, opened the New Royal Academy Of Dance Headquarters in March 2022

So what benefits could it bring you? ‘Ballet, although it looks effortlessly graceful, actually demands an immense amount of control, skill and strength,’ says GH fitness expert Kim Hawley. ‘Those slow, focused movements build deep muscle strength, particularly in the core, legs and glutes. With posture as a constant priority, you’re effectively working twice as hard without really noticing.’

Your heart benefits, too, she explains: ‘Any movement supports cardiovascular health, but exercises that engage the legs and glutes, the largest muscle groups in the body, require more energy and give your system a proper workout.’

Balance is also put to the test, ‘especially through unilateral movements that challenge stability and coordination,’ says Kim.

Meanwhile, dance of any kind is brilliant for the brain. ‘Remembering timing, posture, steps and crucially the correct sequence activates areas we tend to neglect as we age, keeping the mind sharp and engaged,’ she says.

Haven’t considered ballet since you were practising your ‘good toes, naughty toes’ in pre-school? Don’t let that put you off, says Kim: ‘Whether you’re five or sixty-five, ballet doesn’t demand perfection, just patience and a willingness to try something new.’

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