Real Stories: From First Steps to the Stage - How Ballet Empowers Adults in Melbourne
- Kalman Warhaft
- Jul 25
- 3 min read
Published 25 July 2025
At Melbourne Institute of Dance, our adult ballet students are discovering not just new muscles but renewed confidence, creativity, and a sense of belonging. Whether returning to ballet after decades or performing on stage for the first time, they are proving that it’s never too late to dance.
Here are two inspiring stories from our wonderful community.
Tania: Reigniting a Childhood Passion
As we travel life’s journey, we embrace childhood pursuits. Perhaps ballet, sport, or other passions. We may marry, raise children, or pursue professional goals. The years pass as we dedicate our lives to others. Suddenly, we reach a stage where we actually do have the time to pursue our own dreams.
I studied ballet until I married and started my family. I would wistfully look back on my ballet career and waft in the memory of the grace, beauty, joy, and music incorporated in ballet.
Fortunately, I was introduced to Melbourne Institute of Dance. A ballet school established by Kalman Warhaft, a wonderful talented dancer himself. Kalman is empathetic, gentle, and has a wonderful sense of humour. His adult classes are a joy to attend. Whether you have prior experience or not, these classes are for us all. We have formed wonderful friendships with adults from all walks of life with a common love of movement, music, and dance.
From the moment I walked into the studio and met Kalman, I knew this was an environment and class I wanted to be part of. As soon as class started, my mind went back in time. It all came back. Problem was the body had totally lost its suppleness. There have been a lot of oohs! and ahhs! along the way. All totally worth it.
As an extra thrill, the adult classes are incorporated into the school's end-of-year concert where Kalman choreographs a ballet which includes all ages from tiny tots to the adults. We even have two generations on stage at one time. It is now four years since my journey started. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.
Thank you, Kalman and Melbourne Institute of Dance.
Helena: Building Strength, One Class at a Time
Melbourne Institute of Dance brings me such joy. I still remember my feelings of anxiety in that first class because although I'd been to some ballet classes as a child and young adult, they were not on the same level of professionalism. By the end of the class, I was completely absorbed in the music and rhythm and absolutely loving it!
Melbourne Institute of Dance is the whole package. The atmosphere in the studio; the precise instruction; the routines and patterns of the barre work; the inspirational music; the incremental development of strength and technique; the great encouragement of the teachers and fellow students and the good humour. There is real care and support for the dancers. Correction of technique is not overwhelming but carried out sensitively.
How many older people say they can't move like they used to? I can truly say I can move better than I could a few years ago, thanks to ballet. My biggest challenge as an older dancer is still my body and its limitations. I'm no longer as flexible as I'd like to be and I've come to accept this and I work to make small improvements. I can see results, even tiny ones, and I know I'm stretching further and balancing more confidently. It's a work in progress. When I leave the class, I feel taller and straighter.
I do set goals and they can be specific ones for a particular movement or more general like pointing my feet further or trying to be more expressive.
Performing has always been an issue for me and I really had to convince myself that I could take part in the production of ‘Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,’ but I'm so pleased that I worked to conquer that fear. Working on the annual performance from the beginning is such a privilege and seeing the whole creative process come to fruition for over a hundred dancers is just wonderful. The nerves are still there and this is something I need to keep working on! There are always light moments and it's certainly not too serious.
If you’re ready to take the first step, our adult ballet community is ready to welcome you.
Enrol for a trial class today!
Or contact us to learn more:
+61 436 342 295
Let your ballet journey begin - one step at a time!