NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WMOT) -- The Nashville Ballet recently expanded its facility in West Nashville. The organization had little choice, its School of Ballet has tripled in size in the last four years.
The school’s several divisions are attracting dancers ranging from toddlers to senior citizens who’ve celebrated their three score and ten.
The school's adult community division teaches six levels of instruction, from Introduction to Ballet to Advanced Ballet, but there can still be wide variation in each class in age and skill level. Company dancer and class instructor John Upleger says it’s an interesting challenge.
“Going up on one leg and turning around a couple of times isn’t real easy. It doesn’t come natural,” Upleger explained. “If you’re younger you’re usually a little more fearless and you can go for it a little more. So there is a little bit of play trying to balance that out for the older age range that might not be as open to it. But they all tend to get there eventually.”
Karyn Kipley sees the diversity in the community ballet classes as a plus. Kipley is currently taking both the Intermediate and advanced classes.”
“There’s diversity in skills, there’s diversity in backgrounds, and ethnicity, and occupational diversity, and it’s just all very different. So, I think when we all come together and start dancing there’s something very special about that,” Kipley said.
Kipley danced with the Nashville company for a couple of season in what she says now seems like “about a 100 years ago.” She says it’s great whole-body exercise, and a mental challenge as well. But with a photography business to run and four kids under 11 at home, it’s also a much needed escape.
“When the music starts and the plies begin, it’s like...there’s a great sense of peace and joy. It feels joyful.”
Down the hall in the Beginners Class, company dancer Eric Harris has a dozen or so students seated in a circle on the floor, backs ram-rod straight and the bottoms of their feet pressed together. The moves he’s putting them through are a lot simpler.
Latrisha Talley is taking the beginner’s class. She’s a legal secretary and an aspiring actress who wants to add some dance training to her resume. Talley says learning the ballet basics is intimidating at first and she needed a little encouragement to continue.
“You know, you’ll get it. You’re doing fine. You can’t expect to come out here and be Misty Copeland on your first night. (laughs) So, the challenging part is actually seeing people at a more advanced level, but that’s also encouraging because it’s…if you continue to keep at it, you know, you can get to that level, Talley said.”
John Upleger says having a part in helping novice dancers push on to that next level makes the extra hours in the studio worthwhile. He says it’s especially thrilling to see the boost in confidence that dance can provide.
“In the beginning of the year they’ll sort of be in the corner, shy, not really wanting to step out there on the floor. But by the end of the year they’re right there with their classmates, wanting to be seen by the teachers and by the parents and by the other students. Some of that can be the case with the adults as well…a chance where you can get in there and come outside your shell a little bit,” he said.
The Nashville Ballet will celebrate National Dance Day, Saturday, July 25, by offering a free introductory class to anyone interested. The next season of community dance classes are set to begin August 3.