There has been much publicity today about the sadness of elderly people and the loneliness they face. They are a generation of our society which I feel should be treated with more dignity and respect.
I remember being told during a visit to Corsica that there were no old people’s homes on the Italian island, that grandparents lived with their children, and this was done with with love. Each of the family are allocated a duty, to either cook, run errands or write letters, while the youngest would amuse and entertain their nana or papa. This is a model 
which I very much admire.
I wonder how many of them could match our nimble footed John Lowe, who at 88 has taken up ballet with gusto, appearing in a production of Prokofiev’s ballet The Stoneflower.
The geriatric Billy Elliott has now been invited to appear on NBC’s Tonight Show with Jay Leno. This follows his appearances on Channel Four’s Richard and Judy Show this week, as well as countless interviews to radio and TV stations across the world.
Perhaps his dancing school, the Lantern Dance Theatre in Ely, close to where I live, should start ballet classes for pensioners to keep them on their toes too. Never mind the zimmer frame, a few jetes, tendus and plies might do wonders for their fitness, as well as getting them out of the house to loosen up a bit, and have fun too.
My father-in-law knows John and says he is truly a great guy, and a very talented pianist too. Long may he grace our dance floors, and I wonder how long it will be before he doubles up with one of my favourite ballet stars Carols Acosta.
*I was impressed with Rose Bentley’s comment in last weeks PR Week. Rose, director of PR firm Kinross and Render, believes PR employers will this year be seeking to encourage more employees over 60 to apply for jobs to cater for the expanding third age market as it is predicted that by 2033, there will be more people over 65 than under 16. I wonder what the present ratio is of PR practitioners over 60, excluding owners and directors, and whether companies really will hire staff over 60 instead of the young luvvies.
Good way to soothe the nerves – I know you enjoy dancing.
The older I get the more I am inspired by stories like this. Thanks, Ellee
Ian, so we can expect you to wear tights and ballet pumps too when you hit 80?
Age and experience is a big plus point.
I could not dance when I was 19 so there is not much chance of me taking it up at my advanced age. Too bad, but I continue to patronize the gym.
lol Elle,
the geriatric Billy Elliot?
whatever keeps you fit
Mind you I must say I’ll be chuffed if I can still dance at eighty. Not ballet though, the Tango is more my thing – though perhaps it might be a bit much to ask an eighty year old lady, so I’ll have to find a ‘younger’ dance partner (maybe).
Q9, I would love to dance the tango with you when I am 80,I shall make sure I am fit enough.
Completely agree. If there were a viable Pensioner Party, I’d probably vote for them.
Well done him. What a star!
I saw Alexander Grant (one of my teenage Royal Ballet heroes) dancing in a character role in Checkmate in the Ninette de Valois centenary gala at the Barbican Theartre in 1998, he was terric!
Old age is a terrible thing. Very few people seem to travel in it with much dignity, and very few young people seem to treat older people with respect.
We live in such a throw away society
Well Elle,
as it happens I’m off dancing this Saturday night.
Know any good places to Tango.
Why wait till we are eighty, why not Tango till we are eighty
Q9, my thoughts exactly, only my husband has two left feet. I’m afraid I don’t know of anywhere to Tango on a Saturday, though I met a woman at Cambridge Toastmasters one Tuesday evening who told me she was going off afterwards to Tango, but I can’t remember where. Do let me know how it goes.
I thought I commented on this before. Anyway, I took up line dancing when I was 53 and found it great exercise. If I can , anyone can!