Move · Videos · Dance · 37 min

Seated Swans: Chair Ballet with Johanna Hadley

Seated Swans: Chair Ballet with Johanna Hadley — video by Virtual Village Hall by Royal Voluntary Service Play · 37:14

Video by Virtual Village Hall by Royal Voluntary Service on YouTube · Open on YouTube

A seated Silver Swans ballet class for older people: a rub-and-brush warm-up, seated pliés and ballet arms, a dance to Elite Syncopations, footwork, and Swan Lake and Coppélia themes. No ballet experience needed; a dining chair is enough.

  • 37 min
  • Beginner
  • Low impact (no jumping)
  • chair
  • Ballet barre

Good forHealthy ageingDancing for fun

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Step by step 12

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. Warm-up: rub, squeeze, tap and brush down each arm, building up warmth. 2:56
  2. The same rub, squeeze, tap and brush on each leg, front and back. 4:29
  3. Seated plié: ripple down through the spine and peel back up, then ballet arms in first, second and fifth. 6:18
  4. Side port de bras: arm up to fifth and bend from the waist, keeping both sides of your bottom on the chair. 8:45
  5. Pliés, port de bras and big, slow shoulder rolls to music from Coppélia. 10:22
  6. Elite Syncopations taught: play an imaginary piano, light marches, point and close, jazzy arm slides. 13:45
  7. Elite Syncopations danced to the Stop Time Rag, ending with tap and clap and a bold jazzy pose. 19:12
  8. Footwork taught: slide the foot to a point, grand battement leg lifts, heel lifts, rises and ankle circles. 22:50
  9. Footwork to the music, sitting tall in the middle of the chair. 25:34
  10. Swan Lake arms taught: float each wing down, cross the wrists and push, reach out, then take flight. 28:34
  11. Swan Lake port de bras to the music, as Odette, Odile or Rothbart. 31:48
  12. Reverence to your audience, then cool-down: relax, gentle side reaches, wing beats and a port de bras. 33:41

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Sit in the middle of the chair with feet flat, not leaning on the back
  • Keep both sides of your bottom on the chair when you side-bend
  • Keep shoulders down and arms softly rounded in the ballet arm positions

What it works Whole body

Tap an area for more videos that work it.

Joints it uses light on the joints

  • Shoulders movesballet arms, wing beats, shoulder rolls
  • Upper back movesspine ripples, side bends
  • Lower back movesspine ripples, side bends
  • Hips movesseated tendus, grand battements, marches
  • Knees movesseated marches, tendus and battements
  • Ankles & feet movesheel lifts, demi-pointe, ankle circles

Easier option from the coach: Fully seated on a dining chair; hold the chair for support on side-bends

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by Virtual Village Hall by Royal Voluntary Service; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety