The students take their spots at the barre. The mirrored wall reflects 21 dancers, elegant in their leotards, tights and ballet slippers, a few opting for gym shorts or sweats. Barres line up in ...

Cardio, schmardio. For the ultimate body and mind workout, some harried adults are pirouetting back in time — and signing themselves up for ballet class. Whether it’s curious first-timers looking to ...

When Natalie Portman finally achieves perfection onstage in "Black Swan," it's hard to know whether to applaud or pity her. And who could leave inspired to take up ballet after seeing the Syosset ...

AS A KID, I had a few years when I tried to be a ballerina. I didn’t have the flexibility, nor the grace, but I do think ballet trained me out of a general clumsiness. The modern fitness world likes ...

"Uh oh, we've got dinosaur hands again," said Claire, the ballet teacher. I look down, and sure enough my hands, instead of graceful and light like butterflies, are curled up next to my torso like the ...

The Cleveland County Wellness Square (The Well), 210 S. James Garner Ave., is now offering a free ballet class for adults age 16 and over. Taught by Ballet Instructor Maya Read on Wednesdays at 5 p.m.

It’s never too late to dance to your heart’s content, as these ladies do. Mostly young professionals, some mid-lifers and a couple of senior citizens, they meet up every Wednesday for ballet dance ...

Dancers perform a scene from "Swan Lake" at the Westside School of Ballet adult showcase at New Roads School in Santa Monica in August. (Zoe Cranfill / Los Angeles Times) For the record: 11:40 a.m.