Dance
Dancing can be a most enjoyable form of exercise. It can make your body and soul feel good in a way that no other exercise can. Dancing also has a way of taking your cares away. Additionally, dancing can help you lose weight, strengthen and tone your body, increase stamina and flexibility, improve balance and posture, and produce confidence, among other things. Researchers believe that dancing can keep your mind and body healthy as you age. Any kind of dancing increases the number of chemicals being produced in the brain to help with the growth of nerve cells. More importantly, dances that require you to learn certain steps can actually increase your brain power and help to improve your memory skills. So come join us and let’s dance!
- Improved condition of heart and lungs
- Increases muscular strength
- Increases endurance and aerobic fitness
- Improves muscles tone and strength
- Helps with weight loss
- Reduces the risk of osteoporosis
- Increases co-ordination
- Increases agility and flexibility
- Improves mental functioning
- Increases self-confidence and self-esteem
- Release of endorphins creating a sense of happiness
Starting in 2017
Cristina Nakos
Professional ballet dancer with Joburg ballet
“I started ballet classes at the age of 4. Right from the beginning I fell in love and it has been my biggest dream and passion.
I believe that this is what has carried me into the professional spotlight I am in today. My training started out at the Carstens Ireland School of Ballet. I was taught, influenced and mentored by three spectacular women – Sandra Carstens, Natasha Ireland and Anya Carstens. Here I completed all of my Royal Academy of Dance exams, from pre-primary all the way to Solo Seal. Everything I have learnt, I owe to these incredible teachers.
At the age of 13, I was accepted into the Joburg Ballet Academy, where I first handedly experienced performing on stage with a professional ballet company.
After I matriculated in 2015, I auditioned to join Joburg Ballet full time as one of their dancers and was taken on as a member of the Juniour Corps de Ballet. After two years, I was then promoted to Corps de Ballet and I am still working upwards.
Apart from dancing, my other passions include, teaching, fitness and nutrition. I have taught numerous adult ballet classes as well as children’s classes. I find so much joy in having the opportunity to give my knowledge to others as well as to learn from it and better my teaching.
I am always looking for creative, new fitness regimes outside of dancing, so that I can challenge my body to work in different ways – providing me with all round strength. Pilates and my own exercises, also play a huge role in my body’s maintenance and suppleness which all lead back to helping me in my dancing.
I hope to inspire, teach and help people along my journey.”