We now have 11 stories.

Dennis is 59 years old, and beginning ballet for the first time! Update 4.11.03!

David is a former gymnast who began ballet to help with floor exercise technique. Ten years later, he writes about his return to ballet at age 33.

Jay writes about his own path to ballet, and brings us into the present with an unusual twist (no painful pun intended). At age 42, he takes us through several knee injuries and his recent surgery, including his rehab updates. This is a must-read for the older dancer. Most recent update: 4/03 -- and he's doing great (even participating in a recital program of Coppelia in the role of Franz.

James started dance study in his 40s, and now, at age 57, teaches and directs his own dance company, which performs throughout the community in the Washington DC area.

Geoffrey shares his story of beginning ballet at 16, having a brief professional career which was sidelined by injury. After a recent successful surgery, he's back at the barre at age 43.

Joseph is a 300-pound martial arts master who discovered dance while attending college courses. He has explored modern dance, ballet, and jazz.

Kevin is a younger guy who writes about the fun of learning ballet.

Don is a Renaissance man who came to ballet after an introduction to dance that included such ancient forms as pavanes and bransles. After some injuries during his years of ballet, he, too, is back to ballet class.

George began dance classes because his wife was already dancing. Together they study ballet, jazz, and tap as well as perform (and win their division) in numerous competitions. George has recently been tapped for a local television commercial, which you can see on this page. George and his wife were in their late 40s when he originally wrote his story. At the time his commercial was filmed (2001), George was, I think, about 50.

Nick's story shows that not even a Scots footballer is immune to the lure of ballet.

Perseus was forbidden by his parents to dance as a boy and young man. After his mother's death, he began ballet study in earnest.