DANCERS from a local ballet company will be featured on ITV’s Tonight tonight in a section discussing why people live longer.
Members of the Janet Lomas School of Dancing’s Silver Swans ballet class for those over 55 will be invited to “How To Age Well?” moderated by actor and musician Martin Kemp.
The program includes interviews with the Silver Swans and their teacher, Johanna Hadley, and features the ladies dancing at home in their online ballet classes.
It examines how people live longer but are not always in the best of health.
The Silver Swans demonstrate how they use their ballet classes, specially designed for those over 55 years old, to keep moving and active during lockdown.
The Silver Swans’ footage was shot remotely and focuses on their new online classes.
Silver Swans dance instructor Johanna Hadley said, “At the start of the pandemic we decided to put all of our classes online. It was wonderful that everyone was able to train from home in lockdown.
“Since our classes are live on Zoom, we can all still talk to each other – just like in a normal class. We have had a wonderful response from the classes and now even people from all over the UK and abroad are coming to our classes.”
Prior to the lockdown, more than 100 Silver Swans traveled to the Janet Lomas School of Dancing at Blackford Bridge United Reformed Church on Manchester Road each week to attend classes.
Classes have no age limit and there is a wide range of participants, from beginners to ex-professional ballet dancers.
When the lockdown ends, the school intends to offer online classes alongside in-person classes as the online program is well received.
Silver Swan Maureen North, 71, said: “When I started Silver Swans, I was waiting for knee replacement surgery.
“After the operation, Johanna helped me adjust the exercises to support my recovery. Everyone is very friendly and, in addition to improving fitness, the classes also improve mental health.”