All together now ... En pointe

White-collar workers are always looking to try some new health regime such as yoga or karate. The latest fad in Shanghai is ballet.

"I believe dancing ballet can improve my health and posture," says 46-year-old Fang Wen, who attends two ballet classes a week.

"It also helps occupy my free time and it's a great way to get to know new friends."

But, aren't adults too stiff and heavy to learn to stand on their toes, to bend and do splits?

Not at all, according to Ting Dance, a Western dance school, with ballet as its core expression.

The newly opened center has 200 students, mostly adults.

"We believe that most adults, especially ladies, have had some encounter with dance during their lives. It is common knowledge that ballet provides the most solid foundation for most dance genres," says Tina Chen, executive principal of the Ting Ballet.

"We also believe that apart from gaining better physical control, coordination, and heighten awareness of bodily alignment, ballet can also help any learners to gain self confidence, improve observation, enhance musical appreciation and artistry, both in terms of performance and appreciation of the arts.

"We are not training adult ballet learners to become prima ballerina, but rather to achieve all the above, as well as making their bodies more mobile," adds Chen.

With six dance studios occupying 1,700 square meters of space in downtown Shanghai, the fully equipped school offers a formal ballet program for all ages and levels based on the Royal Academy of Dance training system.

All teachers in the school are certified by the academy.

In addition to ballet courses, the school also runs a club for members who wish to expand their social networks.

Perhaps this is one hobby that will keep the ladies on their toes, healthy and happy.

At least, it will give them all a dancer's gait.

lixinzhu@chinadaily.com.cn.