BALLET GIVES RETIREE LIFE BACK
AGE and health challenges are no longer barriers for Colleen Reid, after she started taking ballet classes for the first time in her life eight weeks ago, to assist with chronic pain.
The 67-year-old Toowoomba woman was diagnosed with osteoarthritis two decades ago and despite the pain initially being manageable, the condition soon became debilitating.
“In the beginning I could ignore it, but the pain started to wake me up in the middle of the night, and I really like my sleep,” she said.
“It started playing with my head a bit – I kept thinking ‘is this old age? Is this just how it is now?’ so I started to prepare myself to grow old and stopped doing things.
“Eventually I decided to give myself a kick and do something about it.”
Ms Reid decided to seek help with Arthritis Queensland which has now partnered with Queensland Ballet to launch the Dance Moves program.
Designed to help people with arthritis to build their strength, balance, function and mood, and reduce pain, the program is available to all Queenslanders with the condition.
Offering hour-long sessions once a week, a Queensland Ballet teacher conducts the classes online.
Adding a social element to the program, dancers are also encouraged to wear fun, bright clothing and accessories.
Other than the odd line dancing class, Ms Reid never had the desire to dance but jumped at the opportunity to join this unique program.
And after just eight weeks of participating, she has only experienced positive results.
Ms Reid said the classes had also given her a new perspective on life as she felt more energised, positive, adventurous and willing to try new things.