01/10/2026
One of our beautiful adult dancers had her story published in the Royal Academy of Dance publication 'Taking Flight'. Congratulations Penny on a really touching article. We have found your commitment to your classes inspirational and we have copied it below for all to read:
BALLET HAS BEEN A LIFELINE
Just before I retired, nearly two years ago, I saw a poster about a Silver Swans class in a local supermarket. Instantly, the excitement about the possibility of returning to ballet was aroused...something I had previously imagined was possible. Retirement came and after finding out a bit more about Silver Swans, I reached out to Redbridge Ballet School, where a wide choice of Silver Swan classes are available for all levels and abilities. I danced for many years as a child and a young adult and my return to ballet was everything I could have wished for...lots of fun, but also challenging.
I attended lessons twice a week for a year, where I made new friends, developed my dancing and had the very best time. All my family and friends knew that I wasn't available on Monday or Tuesday mornings because of my ballet lessons! After almost a year, I had a diagnosis of breast cancer. My operation occurred in the summer break and I was back to class in September, only two weeks after surgery. A bit stiff, but determined to be there. Another operation followed along with six months of chemotherapy and then radiotherapy. Nearly a year later, treatment has now finished but my body is still recovering. Through the last difficult year, ballet has been a lifeline, something to focus on that wasn't cancer. I was there whenever I could be, doing whatever I could manage. It helped my mobility and my positivity and gave me an escape from cancer. My teacher and fellow dancers regularly asked how I was doing and how treatment was progressing, which meant so much. When I was going through a chemotherapy session, waiting to go into surgery or having radiotherapy, in my head I was doing my ballet exercises...singing and marking the movements in my head. It kept me relaxed and calm at some of the most stressful times. My recovery is now marked by how well a class went, how much I managed to do and I am getting stronger by the week. Ballet is my joy and its value to me through the last year is immeasurable. Thank you Silver Swans! Penny Martin
