By Jeannie D
There are some friendships that are stitched into the fabric of your life. They may have frayed at the edges from fights and softened from shared heartbreaks but they hold fast with the joy of unforgettable memories. That describes me and Jo-Ann Strauss. We’ve worked together, partied together, fought like siblings, and cried through breakups (sometimes each other’s, sometimes at the same time). I’m proud to say I even introduced her to the man who later became her husband.
Today, she’s a radiant wife, a mother of four, and somehow – because apparently running a household, a career, and a hugely successful career isn’t enough – she’s also taken up adult ballet fitness classes. Intrigued by her new passion, I found myself practicing my plié at the barre with her last week. Spoiler alert: I walked like a cowgirl after my first class. Graceful swan? Not quite. More like Bambi meets Beyoncé in heels.
Meet Jo, The Prima Multitasker
Before we get into why ballet is the fitness trend du jour, let me first brag a little bit about my fabulous friend. Jo-Ann’s podcast, Artdacity, is where art finally becomes accessible – listening to it feels less like a snobby private members’ club and more like a warm dinner party of good friends. She’s built a growing community that celebrates creativity while juggling motherhood, marriage, and a calendar that would terrify other mere mortals. And yet… she has still found the time to take up a new athletic discipline. What prompted this move, I asked her?
“I wanted to resurrect my childhood dream of dancing en pointe,” she says, explaining that as a child, she joined a ballet outreach programme called Dance For All that held free lessons at her school in Blackheath. She progressed quickly and danced competitively but gave up at the age of 12 after being denied entrance to a ballet school that did not accept kids from “the wrong side of the tracks”.
“Even though Apartheid was over, it was a cleverly deceptive way of enforcing its ongoing legacy. The rejection broke my heart, and I hung up my ballet shoes.” Still, she credits ballet for teaching her how to command a stage, and influencing her future success as a model, public speaker, beauty queen and now podcast host.
Then, when well-known Cape Town ballet teacher, Sue De Moyencourt, opened a new studio down the road from where Jo-Ann lives late last year, she decided it was finally time to fulfill her childhood dream and signed up for her first class.
“I try to attend as many classes as possible and hope to go on pointe next year,” she says. “I love how empowered and focussed ballet makes me feel.”
I didn’t need more encouragement than that. I quickly sourced a tutu (because why wear only a leotard and tights when you can go full Black Swan?) and joined Jo-Ann and her trainer, Terina Van Schalkwyk at the De Moyencourt School Of Ballet in Cape Town, for my first lesson.
Why Ballet, Why Now?
Adult ballet is having a moment. Blame it on TikTok’s obsession with the “balletcore” fashion trend (think pastel wrap sweaters, satin skirts, and pink leg warmers you never knew you needed) and it’s easy to understand the appeal. But the real benefit? A strong, lean, toned body and switched on brain.
Here’s why everyone from CEOs to cool moms are pirouetting out of the wings and onto centre stage.
- Strength & Grace In One Package: Ballet is sneaky. You think you’re just stretching and then your thighs start burning like they’ve been set on fire and your abs feel like they’ve signed up for military training.
- Posture Goals: Forget Pilates. Stand at a barre for a few weeks and suddenly you’re gliding into rooms with your shoulders back, chin up, and that “I’m a diva and I know it” energy.
- Mind-Body Connection: It forces you to focus on your breath, form and balance. It’s a moving meditation that’s good medicine for the soul.
- The Fashion: From tulle skirts to soft pink knits, Balletcore is a trend that says, “I’m chic, and I can jeté out of this meeting.” What’s not to love?
My Ballet Baptism
My first class started with optimism and ended with me questioning my life choices. The pliés felt doable but then we started with tendus, relevés, and grand jetés (grand what?). I discovered muscles I didn’t know existed. I also discovered that balance is not my spiritual gift.
But here’s the thing: despite the sweat and the sore thighs, I left feeling exhilarated. Like I’d tapped into some secret world of graceful elegance that had been waiting for me. Yes, I may have waddled around like John Wayne for several days afterwards, but my core felt stronger, my posture improved, and my inner ballerina whispered, “Encore.”
Keen to give it a try? Sign up with De Moyencourt School Of Ballet in Tamboerskoof. The ballet studio is state of the art, and they offer five adult ballet classes every week, from beginner to advanced level. Follow along on Insta @sdemoyencourtballet
