Queen Camilla joins weekly ballet class with Angela Rippon to keep fit

Queen Camilla stays fit and healthy by doing regular ballet classes with a dance group for the over 50s.

She was inspired to join the Silver Swans after a visit to the Royal Academy of Dance. The Queen is now an enthusiastic dancer, referring to herself as “a devoted, if slightly creaky, Silver Swan”.

Strictly Come Dancing sensation and former TV presenter Angela Rippon is also a member, and credits it with helping her dazzle on the dancefloor last year.

In a conversation with Angela and retired ballerina and former Strictly judge Dame Darcey Bussell, the Queen, 76, said: “When I came to the Royal Academy of Dance for the first time somebody said to me, ‘You are going to see a Silver Swans class’.

“I thought, ‘Oh dear, what on Earth is this going to be?’ I thought it was going to be a lot of ancient people like me, wobbling about on one leg. I couldn’t believe how good everybody was.

“Sarah, the wonderful teacher, asked if I would ever consider having a lesson.

“So I got a group of ancient friends together and the four of us clatter around.

“When we’re in London we do it once a week and it makes all the difference.”

Camilla added: “I think we’ve all got to keep active. If we don’t, we’ll just seize up and won’t be able to get out of bed in the morning. It doesn’t matter if it’s 10 minutes or 20 – it just starts off the day. I do a combination – a bit of Silver Swans, a bit of Pilates and a lot of walking, which I love.

“I’m president of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, and it’s what we try to tell people to do, to keep their bones strong.”

Angela, 79, a Silver Swans ambassador, is the oldest contestant in Strictly history. She wowed viewers with her incredible high kicks and will be joining the live arena tour this year. She told the Sunday Express: “I’d recommend dancing to all age groups.

“Ballet is a perfect way to keep your core strong, get your balance right and keep flexible. The great thing about dance is that it is socially engaging, you will have fun with people rather than working on a bicycle or whatever. So yes, I would recommend people dance, whether it’s ballet or tap.

“It’s proven scientifically that it’s the best all-round form of physical and mental activity for people as they get older.

“We are an ageing population so it’s really important for people to keep fit and strong if they want to have a healthy life.”

Silver Swans has members in more than 50 countries around the world.

There are 1,407 licensed Silver Swans teachers, 551 based in the UK.

The Queen visited the Royal Academy of Dance HQ in 2018 and afterwards enquired about becoming a Silver Swan. She went on to raise awareness of the health benefits of ballet for older people on the Royal Family’s Instagram account.

And she sent a special message to Silver Swans when they held a special celebration to mark United Nation’s Day of Older Persons last October.

Camilla, vice patron of the Academy, wrote: “As a devoted, if slightly creaky, Silver Swan myself, I 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.

“To borrow a quote – Keep Dancing!”

The Academy developed Silver Swans in 2017 in response to a growing demand for ballet classes for older learners.

One member who credits her strength and mental well-being to attending a weekly Silver Swans class is Chrystella Soteriou, 65, from South West London.

She says weekly ballet classes have helped her navigate tough times in her life, as well as being great exercise and introducing her to a new community. She said: “I’ve been doing ballet for three and half years and I’m gradually improving.

“It really is just fantastic with Silver Swans – you take from it what you need and it’s also a fantastic community.”

She took a taster class after seeing an advertisement and recalls: “It felt non-threatening. I thought, ‘OK, maybe let’s go’ and thank goodness I did. The group was really lovely. Everyone introduced themselves. We were asked about ourselves, we did a few things at the bar. It just felt so
welcoming and wonderful, and being in that environment felt very inspiring.”

Chrystella adds: “Initially I was going to fulfil a childhood dream. But there is a
freedom in dancing, and you’re learning things all the time. Physically and emotionally you gain strength.”

Another Swan who attends a weekly class is Nicky Butler, 66, who returned to ballet after a 40-year gap.

She said: “I was a professional ballet dancer way back and came out of it through anorexia – I didn’t touch ballet for over 40 years. Another ballet dancer said why don’t you go back and do the Silver Swans classes and I thought I’m ready to do that now.

“I realised how beautiful the discipline of ballet was and I started to remember my technique and really started to enjoy the expression. The love I had for ballet as a child has come back.

“All of us have a real love for it and it’s one of our favourite times of the week.

“It’s quite social because we go for coffee afterwards and we get to know one another – we’re a real mixed bag of folk.”

She adds: “My stamina has built up because it’s pretty aerobic when we get really moving around.

“We are a little careful with jumping
but it’s definitely good for stamina. It’s good for the heart and I’m sure for the bones too – and for absolutely every part of the body and mental health.

Nicky, who lives in South London, is no longer battling an eating disorder but she is aware her body has changed over the decades: “We are a bit creaky and not quite so stretchy, but otherwise I’m pretty healthy.”

Gia Gray, the Academy’s head of dance school, said: “We believe everybody can dance, we truly believe that. It’s not just a form of exercise, it’s something that can improve overall health and well-being.”

The Queen has yet to convince King Charles to join though. She admitted: “I think that wouldn’t be a good idea. I don’t think we’re going to do a pas de deux yet.” But she added: “He is the probably the fittest man of his age.”

Speaking of his love for walking, she added: “He’s like a mountain goat. He leaves everybody miles behind. I’m the ancient Silver Swan he’s the mountain goat.”

● Visit: royalacademyofdance.org/dance-with-us/silverswans