IN the seventeenth century dancing was an adjunct military art, a peacetime discipline akin to fencing and equestrianism, with which it shared some of its movements and disciplined approach to training and physical skill.” (– Jennifer Homans, ‘Apollo’s Angels’)
“Since the dawn of human civilisation, cultures have used dance to imbue a sense of camaraderie and cohesion . . .”
Six years ago, when teaching an adult ballet class at Sayers Dance Centre in Brisbane, I met a most unlikely student: Lieutenant Colonel Rick Maher. This I found out after class, and admit, if I into shape! Why ballet classes, I asked Maher? In retrospect, my question should have been: why are not more military personal taking ballet classes, as we are intrinsically related?
