26/07/2026
I want to share something I’ve been thinking about when it comes to ballet, ageing and menopause.
There is a lot of information online about ballet and hormones, and sometimes the enthusiasm seems to run ahead of the actual evidence. I absolutely believe in the benefits of ballet during midlife — I see them in my students all the time. Ballet can help us build strength, improve balance, support our mood and reconnect with our bodies.
But when it comes to very specific claims about exactly what ballet does to our hormones, I think it is important to ask: where is the evidence?
I would much rather share what we genuinely know — and what the emerging research is beginning to show — than turn enthusiasm into something that sounds like scientific fact.
So, let’s look at some of the things we do know.
🩰 Ballet and falls
Falls might not be the most glamorous topic, but as we get older, maintaining our balance and independence becomes incredibly important.
Research is increasingly looking at older recreational ballet dancers compared with people who do not dance. When participants are exposed to an unexpected loss of balance — the kind of situation that, in real life, could lead to a serious injury — ballet dancers seem to have an advantage.
They can react more quickly. Their muscles respond faster. They are more likely to regain their balance and stay on their feet.
One 2024 study found that around 45% of older ballet dancers fell during the test, compared with approximately 82% of the non-dancers.
But for me, the most interesting part is not the exact statistic. It is why ballet may help.
Every time we practise a tendu, a relevé, a balance or a controlled transition, we are asking our bodies to find stability. We are constantly working on posture, coordination, reaction time and finding our centre when our body moves away from it.
In a way, we are practising how not to fall — over and over again, often without even realising it.
🧠 Ballet and the brain
There is also growing research looking at dance and cognitive function as we age. Recent studies suggest that dance may support memory, attention and other aspects of cognitive health.
And ballet is particularly demanding for the brain.
Think about what happens in just one class.
You learn a combination. You have to remember it. Then you do it on the other side. Perhaps you reverse it. You have to coordinate your movements with the music while thinking about your posture, your arms, your turnout, your epaulement — and trying to remember what comes next when your brain suddenly decides to go completely blank!
That is so much more than simply exercising.
It is your brain and body working together, constantly communicating and adapting.
And when we challenge ourselves in this way regularly, there is good reason to believe that it can be beneficial as we grow older.
This is one of the reasons I love ballet so much.
It is not about trying to look young.
It is about staying connected to your body, continuing to challenge your mind, building strength and balance — and enjoying the feeling of being fully present in your own body.
And perhaps, most importantly, it is never too late to begin. 🩰
