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Ballet flats are back. Here’s what the research says about how they affect your feet

<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kristin-graham-1427672">Kristin Graham</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/helen-banwell-305575">Helen Banwell</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/saravana-kumar-181105">Saravana Kumar</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em></p> <p>Ballet flat shoes – those thin-heeled lightweight slip-on shoes – are making a fashion <a href="https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/ballet-flats">comeback</a>. And it’s not hard to see why: they’re versatile, easy to wear, soft, flexible and often worn by celebrities.</p> <p>We have often been warned of the dangers of high-heeled shoes, so you might think ballet flats are problem-free.</p> <p>When you look at the research, however, a complicated picture emerges. There’s no definitive evidence to show ballet flats are generally harmful to foot health in the long-term. But ill-fitting ballet flats can be a problem.</p> <h2>Make sure it fits, especially in the toe box</h2> <p>An estimated <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30065787/">70%</a> of the population are wearing ill-fitting shoes. This mismatch between foot and shoe shape can increase foot pain, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17507530/">reduce stability</a>, and can mean more blisters, corns and calluses. And habitual wearing of tight shoes has been <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958259207000533">associated</a> with bone changes in the toes and feet over time.</p> <p>Many flats feature a shallow and narrow toe box (the part of the shoe where the toes go). A too-small toe box often doesn’t align with the shape of a foot and ends up squishing the toes. It can also <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958259206000770">increase</a> pressure on top of and under the foot, and <a href="https://jfootankleres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1757-1146-6-28">restrict</a> the movement of the forefoot during walking.</p> <p>But a too-big toe box is also a problem. Too much foot movement within the shoe can cause pressure and friction on the skin, which can also lead to calluses, corns, blisters, and wounds.</p> <p>A poorly fitting toe box can also cause micro trauma to toenails which, ultimately, can change <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anuva-Bansal/publication/347522694_Traumatic_Nail_Disorders/links/60d6135592851ca94487df7e/Traumatic-Nail-Disorders.pdf">their look and thickness</a>.</p> <p>So if you’re wearing flats, make sure you choose a shoe with the right sized toe box.</p> <h2>What about the heel?</h2> <p>Health professionals often recommend a small heel over a completely flat shoe. Very flat shoes can <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27498844/">place</a> <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0268003307002082">more</a> strain on the soft tissues that support the foot arch – specifically, the plantar fascia.</p> <p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27498844/">Research</a> has shown moving from a completely flat shoe to a small, raised heel reduces the tension force on the plantar fascia during standing activities.</p> <p>On the other hand, other <a href="https://journals.lww.com/jpojournal/Fulltext/2009/01000/Effects_of_Shoe_Heel_Height_on_the_Roll_Over.7.aspx#:%7E:text=The%20roll%2Dover%20shapes%20seem,without%20a%20change%20in%20alignment.&amp;text=Photographs%20of%20the%20prosthetic%20feet,shapes%20of%20these%20feet%20superimposed">research</a> has shown most people will adapt their ankle and knee motion to accommodate shoes of different heel heights.</p> <h2>What about support?</h2> <p>Ballet flats tend to have very flexible, thin soles and heel counters (the part, coloured red in this picture, that hugs the heel and the back part of the foot).</p> <p>These thin and flexible structures mean flats are often accused of lacking support. But debate rages among foot and shoe experts about how important support is in the first place.</p> <p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27729290/">Research</a> on barefoot-style shoes has shown walking in these types of shoes significantly reduces some loads on the knee compared to more stable supportive shoes.</p> <p>Minimalist shoes have also been found to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30102872/">increase strength</a> in certain foot muscles used when we push off during walking, running or jumping.</p> <p>However, other research found stable supportive shoes can <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33428439/">improve knee pain</a> when walking more than flat flexible shoes.</p> <p>The thin soles in flats mean there is little cushioning under the foot. While more cushioning can improve comfort, and reduce stress and strain on your foot sole <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0021929011001758?casa_token=gecXFCMi0LcAAAAA:TazyTd8TRaAl_bG0jprifYIUIlWRDwEH6bVeymBYTWups2iDGMuUjLs2gaNqsiNGHVJhHC3J9AdB">skin</a>, there is no evidence it reduces loads across the lower leg.</p> <p>In fact, walking in cushioned shoes has been shown to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20191571/">increase</a> the load on the knee compared to flat, flexible shoes.</p> <h2>So, what’s the verdict?</h2> <p>The verdict is mixed. Yes, there’s evidence poorly fitting shoes and a flat heel can be detrimental, with consequences seen in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966636221000199">rearfoot</a> (around the ankle) and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966636218300687">knee</a>.</p> <p>But there’s also no hard evidence ballet flats cause long-term foot health problems.</p> <p>What matters is choosing a well-fitted shoe to suit your foot shape and needs.</p> <p>If you’re shopping for ballet flats, try to:</p> <ul> <li> <p>choose a pair with a toe box that does not cramp your toes and has a sole at least as wide as your foot</p> </li> <li> <p>choose flats that offer at least some structure and support</p> </li> <li> <p>choose a pair with a small heel rather being than completely flat.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/207806/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> </li> </ul> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kristin-graham-1427672">Kristin Graham</a>, Lecturer in Podiatry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/helen-banwell-305575">Helen Banwell</a>, Lecturer in Podiatry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/saravana-kumar-181105">Saravana Kumar</a>, Professor in Allied Health and Health Services Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/ballet-flats-are-back-heres-what-the-research-says-about-how-they-affect-your-feet-207806">original article</a>.</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Purple Wiggle Lachy Gillespie's beautiful wedding

<p>The Purple Wiggle – AKA Lachy Gillespie – has married fiancee, Dana Stephensen.</p> <p>The beautiful ceremony included their twin daughters, Lottie and Lulu, as well as Stephensen’s son, Jasper.</p> <p>"Our little world - our colours," The Wiggles star captioned a photo of their big day on Instagram.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ClLgLyzrl4S/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ClLgLyzrl4S/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Lachy_Wiggle (@lachy_wiggle)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The couple sparked wedding rumours after sharing a series of professional photos on social media accounts which showed Dana in a full-length white dress and Gillespie in a suit, as they posed outdoors.</p> <p>"Always, always, always. Ever, ever, ever," the ballerina captioned the post.</p> <p>The comment section was flooded with well-wishes and congratulations for the newly weds. The wedding photos were taken by Bayleigh Vedelago.</p> <p>Gillespie and Stephensen welcomed twin daughters Lulu and Lottie in September 2020 and announced their engagement in April that year.</p> <p>Gillespie and Stephensen met when The Australian Ballet began recording a DVD with The Wiggles.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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"So proud": Blue Wiggle's daughter joins the cast

<p>The daughter of Blue Wiggle Anthony Field has shared she has joined the children's entertainment group as a dancer. </p> <p>Lucia Field, 17, made the announcement on her TikTok account, as she shared a throwback picture of her and her famous dad with Dorothy the Dinosaur. </p> <p>She wrote, "I never would've believed you if 16 years ago you told me I'd be here."</p> <p>She then shared a photo of her in a blue skivvy dancing in front of the giant Wiggles logo. </p> <p>The video, which was posted on the offical Wiggles account, was flooded with comments of people cheering on the new dance member. </p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 610px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7132666717473344769&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40thewiggles%2Fvideo%2F7132666717473344769%3Fis_copy_url%3D1%26is_from_webapp%3Dv1%26lang%3Den&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p>Anthony also commented, saying he was "so proud" of his daughter.</p> <p>Lucia graduated from high school in December last year, with her excited father sharing a photo to Instagram of them together at her formal.</p> <p>In addition to Lucia, Anthony is father to daughter Marie, 16, and son Antonio, 14, whom he shares with his wife of 18 years, Michaela Patisteas.</p> <p>Anthony joined The Wiggles in 1979 alongside retired members Murray Cook, Greg Page and Jeff Fatt.</p> <p>The trio were replaced by 'Yellow Wiggle' Emma Watkins, who left the group in October last year, 'Purple Wiggle' Lachlan Gillespie and 'Red Wiggle' Simon Pryce.</p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Family & Pets

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President, actor, dancer - what else can Voldoymyr Zelenskyy do?

<p dir="ltr">He’s a man of many talents and it's no secret Volodymyr Zelenskyy was an actor before becoming Ukraine’s President.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, did you know that he voiced the much loved Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian version of the hit 2014 and 2017 animated film?</p> <p dir="ltr">Yep, neither did we. But also, how cool is that?!</p> <p dir="ltr">The movie’s production studio, StudioCanal, confirmed the news to <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ukrainian-president-volodymyr-zelensky-paddington-voice-1235100949/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hollywood Reporter</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Actor Hugh Bonneville, who plays Paddington’s foster parent was surprised at the news and thanked the President.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Until today I had no idea who provided the voice of @paddingtonbear in Ukraine,” he tweeted on February 28.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Speaking for myself, thank you, President Zelenskiy. #PaddingtonBear.”</p> <p dir="ltr">A dig into Zelenskyy’s career before becoming president revealed that he was in fact quite a popular and successful comedian in Ukraine. He also starred in several films and TV shows.</p> <p dir="ltr">In an incredible moment of life imitating art, Zelenskyy played a school teacher in the political satire series Servant of the People.</p> <p dir="ltr">Spoiler alert: he becomes Ukraine’s president in the series. </p> <p dir="ltr">And if that wasn’t enough, the talented President also won Ukraine’s version of Dancing With the Stars in 2006.</p> <p dir="ltr">Makes you wonder what other leaders have achieved compared to him…</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: YouTube</em></p>

Movies

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Ballet-dancing Olympic boxer cops fine just hours after leaving quarantine

<p>Australian Olympic medallist Harry Garside has been fined more than $5000 for flouting Victoria's COVID-19 restrictions. </p> <p>The 24-year-old boxer attended a party in Melbourne on Saturday night, only hours after leaving hotel quarantine. </p> <p>Harry completed his hotel quarantine period in Brisbane following his return from the Tokyo Olympics, and flew to Melbourne to attend the party only hours later. </p> <p>The boxer is among five people who have been slapped with fines after pictures of the illegal gathering in Mooroolbark were posted on social media. </p> <p>The images show Harry drinking with friends, as they posed with Garside's bronze medal. </p> <p><span>“All attendees will be interviewed and issued with a $5454 infringement notice for breaching Chief Health Officer directions,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.</span></p> <p><span>Harry Garside, who is a plumber by trade, became the first Aussie to win a medal for boxing in 33 years at the Tokyo Olympic Games last month. </span></p> <p><span>He won fans over across the country after revealing that he had taken up ballet dancing in the lead-up to the Olympics to help with his footwork.</span></p> <p><span>Victoria remains in a strict lockdown with no end in sight, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise due to the deadly Delta variant. </span></p> <p><span>The state recorded 92 new locally acquired cases on Sunday, including more than 30 not yet linked to existing outbreaks.</span></p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

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Jacqui Lambie blasts twerking dancers on HMAS Supply: “Absolute shocker”

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in">Senator Jacqui Lambie has slammed the choice to have a group of dancers twerking at the commission of HMAS Supply in Sydney over the weekend.<br /><br />The <em>ABC</em> posted a clip of a group of seven dancers, from Sydney group the 101 Doll Squadron.<br /><br />The troupe were invited to perform at the commissioning of HMAS Supply on Saturday, by the HMAS Supply crew and the navy.</div> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840734/jacqui-lambie-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/920e2acfa178457f81386839b62cbdd7" /></div> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"><em>Image: ABC News</em><br /><br />The footage resulted in widespread backlash, especially Senator Lambie who said having that style of dance at the commissioning of a naval ship was “inappropriate”.<br /><br />“I thought I was watching the Super Bowl there for a split second, I will be honest with you,” she told 9 News.<br /><br />“Whoever made that call, it's an absolute shocker for goodness sake. It is not the time and place to have (that).<br /><br />“Good on those young ladies for getting out there, but I tell you being half-clothed outside a war ship is probably inappropriate.<br /><br />“You know, if that (decision was made by) the leadership in our Defence Force, god help our sons and daughters who are serving.”<br /><br />Governor-General David Hurley was at the ceremony, but the Australian Defence Force denied he was present for the dancers.<br /><br />However, <em>ABC</em> footage gathered images of the dancers that showed Mr Hurley sitting in a seat.</div> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840733/jacqui-lambie-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4222e957a0184f41abbf71409cfc68ee" /><br /><br />“The dance was performed prior to the commencement of the commissioning formalities and prior to the arrival of His Excellency the Governor-General, chief of navy and commander Australian fleet,” a Defence spokeswoman said.</div> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"></div> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"><em>Images: ABC News</em></div> </div> </div> <div class="post-action-bar-component-wrapper"> <div class="post-actions-component"> <div class="upper-row"><span class="like-bar-component"></span> <div class="right-box-container"></div> </div> </div> </div>

News

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Royal Ballet: How Duchess Camilla stays fit during lockdown

<p>The Duchess of Cornwall has taken up ballet with a group of “ancient friends” as a way to stay fit.</p> <p>During a conversation with Dame Darcey Bussell and Angela Rippon, Duchess Camilla revealed she had been taking ballet lessons for 18 months through Silver Swans tutorials aimed at the over-55s.</p> <p>The 72-year-old duchess said she decided to try the discipline after visiting a Silver Swans class in New Zealand in 2018.</p> <p>“At first I thought it was going to be very funny and I was going to laugh at everybody toppling over next door to me,” she said.</p> <p>“But we concentrate so hard that we don’t even know what our friend next door is doing.</p> <p>“You might groan a bit afterwards, huff, grunt and everything else. But you do feel so much better. It’s fun.”</p> <p>Since then, she has been attending classes with three “ancient friends”, she said. “The four of us clatter around and when we are in London, we do it once a week. It makes all the difference.”</p> <p>Camilla said while she might have “improved a tiny bit” after 18 months of training, she would not be “taking to the stage”.</p> <p>The duchess, who was recently appointed as the Vice-Patron of the Royal Academy of Dance, encouraged those aged over 55 to have a go at ballet during the coronavirus lockdown through the Silver Swans online classes.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">With the news that The Duchess of Cornwall is to become Vice Patron of the Royal Academy of Dance, Her Royal Highness undertook a video call with <a href="https://twitter.com/DarceyOfficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DarceyOfficial</a> and Angela Rippon to discuss the Silver Swans programme. 🩰<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InternationalDanceDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InternationalDanceDay</a><a href="https://twitter.com/RADheadquarters?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RADheadquarters</a> <a href="https://t.co/urjDxgg9BZ">pic.twitter.com/urjDxgg9BZ</a></p> — Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClarenceHouse/status/1255399394867843073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>In the video call with Bussell and Rippon, the duchess also shared an update on her husband Prince Charles, who recently recovered from coronavirus.</p> <p>“My husband is a workaholic, so he will work wherever he is. He’s sitting at his desk now working away,” she said.</p> <p>“We try and do something for all our charities most days to try and give them a bit of encouragement and just try to lend our support.”</p>

Beauty & Style

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“I screwed up”: Morning show host hit with backlash after mocking Prince George for taking ballet

<p>After mocking Prince George’s school curriculum,<span> </span><em>Good Morning America<span> </span></em>anchor Lara Spencer has issued an apology after nationwide backlash ensued.</p> <p>During a segment on the show, it was revealed that the eldest son of Prince William takes ballet classes, with his dad mentioning that “Prince George absolutely loves ballet.”</p> <p>To which Spencer responded: “I have news for you Prince William, we’ll see how long that lasts.”</p> <p>But the quip didn’t go down well, as shortly after she was forced to apologise for the incident on her Instagram due to significant criticism: “My sincere apologies for an insensitive comment I made in pop news yesterday. From ballet to anything one wants to explore in life, I say GO FOR IT. I fully believe we should all be free to pursue our passions. Go climb your mountain – and love every minute of it.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1gzsy_D7-L/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1gzsy_D7-L/" target="_blank">My sincere apologies for an insensitive comment I made in pop news yesterday. From ballet to anything one wants to explore in life, I say GO FOR IT. I fully believe we should all be free to pursue our passions. Go climb your mountain-and love every minute of it.</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/lara.spencer/" target="_blank"> Lara Spencer</a> (@lara.spencer) on Aug 23, 2019 at 9:07am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>She also made a statement on air Monday morning: “I screwed up. I did,” she said. “It was stupid, and I am deeply sorry. I’ve spoken with several members of the dance community over the past few days.</p> <p>“For me the lesson is that words hurt, and it was not my intention, but it was insensitive and I thank you all for giving me the opportunity to apologise personally to you and for you guys coming in here to talk to me and to educate me, again, I’m really sorry.”</p> <p>Her response came shortly after members of the dance community rallied around the young prince and other male dancers with the hashtag #boysdancetoo.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1gjmZTBCxW/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1gjmZTBCxW/" target="_blank">DEAR @lara.spencer of GOOD MORNING AMERICA. I have a message for you. Wake up. It’s 2019. Get with the program. Please share and repost this so a boy who needs to see this feels supported if he dances or wants to! #boysdancetoo #ballet #goodmorningamerica #traviswall #laraspencer #bully</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/traviswall/" target="_blank"> Travis Wall</a> (@traviswall) on Aug 23, 2019 at 6:49am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1hWQ-lhxCU/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1hWQ-lhxCU/" target="_blank">Ballet promotes strength; it cultivates discipline and focus. Ballet provides us with a sense of community, an outlet for creativity, and an avenue for understanding others. Ballet creates a space and a world in which reductive gender stereotypes don’t belong. Ballet is as much masculine as it is feminine, and we’re tremendously proud of and inspired by all our male dancers. #boysdancetoo • Pictured are many of the men in our Company and NB2 currently rehearsing for our season opener Romeo and Juliet!</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/nashvilleballet/" target="_blank"> Nashville Ballet</a> (@nashvilleballet) on Aug 23, 2019 at 2:09pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>There were over 1000 people who took part, as they aimed to raise awareness about the profession.</p>

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“He’s fully taken over”: Why Celine Dion's friends are worried about her “boy toy"

<p>Celine Dion is known as a music icon around the world, but there are concerns amongst her closest friends that she’s being too heavily influenced by her backup dancer and close friend Pepe Munoz.</p> <p>The 51-year-old <em>My Heart Will Go On</em> singer has been very close to Munoz after her husband René Angélil passed away at the age of 73 in 2016.</p> <p>Munoz has been described as her “boy toy” but Dion has said herself that he is gay and her “best friend”.</p> <p><em>The New York Post</em>'s <a rel="noopener" href="https://pagesix.com/2019/07/29/celine-dions-dancer-boy-toy-calling-the-shots-for-legendary-singer/" target="_blank">Page Six</a> has reported that some people in Dion’s inner circle fear that Munoz is “isolating” the star from her friends and “taking over” her life.</p> <p>“Pepe is like her boy toy who is really trying to take over. He’s isolating her and people are feeling it,” an anonymous friend told the publication.</p> <p>“She’s in love with this guy and listens to everything he’s saying.</p> <p>“People go to him when they have questions. He’s fully taken over.”</p> <p>Meanwhile, Dion shut down rumours of a relationship between herself and Munoz last year.</p> <p>“Pepe is gay,” she told <a rel="noopener" href="https://extratv.com/2019/04/04/celine-dion-takes-on-pepe-munoz-romance-rumors/" target="_blank"><em>Extra</em></a>. “At first, I think some people did not know that.”</p> <p>The iconic singer added, “The thing is that he’s my best friend and we dance together and he did so much for me and even just holding my hand… it’s something that I haven’t had for a long time.”</p> <p>She further defended herself to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/8301240/celine-dion-hyde-park-concert-sexier/" target="_blank"><em>The Sun</em>’s</a> Dan Wooten in January saying that they’re just good friends.</p> <p>"The press said, ‘Oh my God, René just passed and now there’s another man.’ Yeah, there’s another man in my life, but not the man in my life," she said. "We’re friends, we’re best friends."</p> <p>Dion added, “Of course we hug and hold hands and go out, so people see that. I mean, he’s a gentleman. He’s giving me his hand to go out.”</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see Dion and Munoz spending time together as best friends. </p>

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How Princess Diana's height stopped her from pursuing one of her biggest dreams

<p>Princess Diana will always be remembered as the fashion icon of the '80s and '90s, and one of the traits that made her look so good in her bold, creative and flattering outfits were her enviously long legs.</p> <p>At nearly 178cm (5’10), the Princess of Wales was taller than most women and it is no doubt her height left a major impression on everyone she met. However, it did mean some of her most beloved passions were quashed.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7828696/new-project-9.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/254954e0df994e54a23c6db3c9790fb8" /></p> <p>Her impressive stature meant her childhood desire to become a professional ballerina was short-lived because of how quickly and tall she grew. A majority of female ballerinas were much shorter than Princess Diana and aside from her long legs and torso – the royal would likely have never been allowed to continue on as a professional ballerina anyway.</p> <p>Before she married into the British royal family, Princess Di had come from an aristocratic family as the daughter of an earl. As a member of the Spencer family and one of the most prominent names in British nobility, a dance career was unfortunately deemed “improper” due to her name and upbringing.</p> <p>However, the princess was still able to have a “real” job that adhered to her own love of children by becoming a nanny and later on a kindergarten aide – her last job before she become a royal member.</p> <p>Her days of dancing resurfaced in her young adulthood when she hired a dance teacher to help her reconnect with her lifetime passion for dance.</p> <p>Her ballet teacher Anne Allan spoke about Princess Di’s love of dancing in <em>Diana: In Her Own Words</em> in 2017 to mark 20 years since the royal’s tragic death in 1997.</p> <p>“When I first met her you could see that there was a huge shyness. But over time as we went through our dance class I realised just how much dance meant to her,” Allan said.</p> <p>“She had dance in her soul. I realised the pure enjoyment that it gave her. She loved the freeness of being able to move and dance. She loved it. I could see it helped to alleviate her emotional life. That was hard for her at that time.”</p> <p> <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7828694/new-project-10.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/23a74f55d7ad4a66a9710c062b58a761" /></p> <p>While the Princess would never pursue a dancing career, she did find other ways to connect with her first love.</p> <p>She was a major supporter for the English National Ballet and often could be seen at appearances to watch and cheer on other young aspiring ballet dancers.</p> <p>The royal also famously danced with Hollywood heavyweight John Travolta at a White House event in 1985. The same year she lovingly surprised her husband at the time, Prince Charles, to a guest appearance at the Royal Opera House where she performed in a quick duet to <em>Uptown Girl</em> with dancer Wayne Sleep who described the experience as <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/jul/14/thats-me-diana-dance-wayne-sleep" target="_blank">“surreal”</a> to <em>The Guardian</em> in 2017.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7828693/new-project-11.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d48ae400b47c494d850ba4065ede82d3" /></p> <p>“Diana loved ballet, but she also wanted to learn jazz, tap and contemporary. Sadly, I couldn't teach her, because I was away on tour so much. But she approached me again when she wanted to perform at the Royal Opera House – it was a private show for supporters and friends of the Royal Ballet. Charles was going to be in the audience and she wanted to surprise him; it was all top secret," Sleep remembered.</p> <p>“The audience gasped when Diana appeared, as if they'd all taken one huge breath. The routine had a bit of everything: jazz, ballet, even a kickline. At one point, I pirouetted and she pushed me down; then I carried her across the stage. I remember thinking, 'Don't drop the future Queen of England.'”</p> <p>It turns out Princess Diana has not been the only royal to love ballet. In 2018, it was revealed Prince George, 5, began taking ballet classes – just one more way the people's princess still holds weight in the lives of her descendants.</p>

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Remembering Barbara Stanwyck: A life in pictures

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">109 years ago, Barbara Stanwyck whose original name was Ruby Stevens, was born in Brooklyn, US. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The American motion picture and television actress gained traction in 1926 when she nabbed the leading role in </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Burlesque. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What made her a legend in her own right was not the number of revered awards, money or fame. Ms Stanwyck died being known as an iconic figure throughout the early ‘30s, for her sheer talent and her versatility that made her a force to be reckoned with during Hollywood’s Golden era. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stanwyck was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress four times for her roles in </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stella Dallas, Ball of Fire, Double Indemnity, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">and</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Sorry, Wrong Number.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The adaptable and gifted talent won three Emmy awards, a Golden Globe and an honorary Oscar in 1982. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Later, Stanwyck was made the recipient of honorary lifetime awards and eventually went on to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Barbara Stanwyck died 20 January 1990 in Santa Monica. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Scroll through the gallery above to see a glimpse of Barbara Stanwyck’s life through pictures. </span></p>

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Allison Baden-Clay’s daughters make first public appearance to honour mum

<p>Allison Baden-Clay’s two eldest daughters have made their first public appearance to award a young ballerina a scholarship in their slain mother’s name.</p> <p>Hannah, 16, and Sarah, 14, accompanied by their grandparents, Geoff and Priscilla Dickie, and aunt Vanessa Fowler, presented the award to Brisbane dance student Taji Hennessy.</p> <p>Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she hoped the $5000 scholarship would help Taji achieve her dream of becoming a professional ballerina.</p> <p>“Last year my government established the Allison Baden-Clay senior program scholarship which honours the memory of Allison and supports young dancers from Queensland Ballet Dance Academy to pursue their dance dreams,” she said.</p> <p>“I announced the scholarship in July, on Strive to be Kind day, the annual day held by the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation, to commemorate Allison and to raise awareness of domestic and family violence and the need for respectful relationships.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/qldballet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@QldBallet</a> Academy student Taji is the inaugural recipient of the $5000 Allison Baden-Clay Senior Program Scholarship. <br /><br />This new scholarship pays tribute to Allison’s love of dance and highlights the importance of nurturing our young people and developing their full potential. <a href="https://t.co/bZEmvu71QK">pic.twitter.com/bZEmvu71QK</a></p> — AnnastaciaPalaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/972289490990460928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>Allison was murdered by her husband Gerard in 2012. He is currently serving a life sentence.</p> <p>It is understood that Gerard has had no contact with his daughters for years.</p> <p>Allison’s sister, Vanessa, gave a heartfelt speech at the presentation honouring the legacy of Allison.</p> <p>“Today is an exciting day as we see my sister and her legacy live on,” she said.</p> <p>“She’s assisting a young dancer to pursue her dream and strive to be the best that she can be. It’s on occasions like this that my family reflect on Allison’s achievements and celebrate her successes. She was an amazing woman and one that was, and still is, an inspiration to many.</p> <p>“Allison was born to dance and excelled at it by the age of four. She had that spark, that bright smile, the soft arms and pointed feet and she filled the stage. Allison was the ever-feminine ballet dancer with spirited stage presence.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Allison Baden-Clay's beautiful daughters, Sarah and Hannah, looking happy and healthy at the Queensland Ballet Studios where a scholarship was given in their mother's name. <a href="https://twitter.com/couriermail?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@couriermail</a> <a href="https://t.co/2vd453MsiD">pic.twitter.com/2vd453MsiD</a></p> — Kate Kyriacou (@KateKyriacou) <a href="https://twitter.com/KateKyriacou/status/972286522975141888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>Scholarship recipient Taji said she was honoured to be the first person awarded the scholarship.</p> <p>“It’s amazing, I’m so grateful,” she said. “It’s my passion.”</p> <p>The Allison Baden-Clay scholarship will be awarded to a young dancer each year until 2020.</p>

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Rare photos show a young Queen Elizabeth at the ballet

<p>Rare photos of a then-Princess Elizabeth at the ballet have surfaced – and they prove Her Majesty has always been the Queen she is today.</p> <p>In a documentary called Royal Journey, footage shows a young Princess Elizabeth and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, enjoying a night out at the ballet during a royal tour of Canada and the United States in 1951.</p> <p>Princess Elizabeth is just 25 years old but cuts a regal figure in her yellow gown, a fur wrap and a glittering tiara. Prince Philip, who was 30 at the time, looks every bit the young gentleman in a tuxedo.</p> <p>The couple are given a standing ovation as they arrive to watch the performance at the Winnipeg Ballet Company in Canada, and the princess is gifted a bouquet of flowers from a young ballerina.</p> <p>Their appearance at the ballet was just five months before the royal couple’s life would change forever. After the death of Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, in February 1952 Princess Elizabeth became the ruling monarch at just 25 years old. And 65 years later, she still is.</p> <p>To see the photos scroll through the gallery above. </p>

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Elton John finally releases “Tiny Dancer” music video after 46 years

<p>It’s widely regarded as one of his best songs, but Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” never got a music video. That is, until now. 46 years after it was first released, the hit song finally has a film clip to match – and we think it’s perfect. After all, you’d want it to be, having been in the works since 1971! Watch it below and see which famous faces you can find.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yYcyacLRPNs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>Did you see them? Let us know your thoughts about the video in the comments below. Was it worth the wait?</p>

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Spain’s National Ballet dances with Parkinson’s patients

<p>This year marks two centuries since Parkinson’s was first recognised as a health condition, and every year on April 11 – World Parkinson’s Day – the world unites to help raise awareness for this debilitating and heartbreaking disease<a href="/health/body/2017/03/is-it-possible-to-detect-parkinsons-sooner/" target="_blank"></a>.</p> <p>In Spain, a group of ballet dancers from the Ballet Nacional de España spent some quality time with a few special guest dancers at their studios in Madrid – Parkinson’s patients.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F146153208766303%2Fvideos%2F1297008637014082%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p>“It was a real pleasure for us to dance with them in this special day,” the National Ballet wrote on Facebook. It just goes to show, disability doesn’t have to be a barrier to getting out there in the world and having some fun.</p>

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Find the ballet dancer in the sea of flamingos

<p>We’ve tested your <a href="/news/news/2016/09/can-you-solve-this-maths-problem/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">problem-solving</span></strong></a> and <a href="/news/news/2016/09/can-you-spot-the-dog-in-the-herd-of-cows/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">object-finding</span></strong></a> skills before, and each time you’ve blown us away with your keen and agile minds. But can you keep up the great work?</p> <p>In this head-scratching visual puzzle, a ballet dancer is hidden among a huge flock of similarly-coloured flamingos. Take a look for yourself and see if you can spot her.</p> <p><img width="500" height="500" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/28798/dance1_500x500.jpg" alt="Dance1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Still stuck? Scroll down to reveal the answer…</p> <p><img width="500" height="500" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/28799/dance2_500x500.jpg" alt="Dance2" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Tell us in the comments below, how long did it take you to find her?</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/09/can-you-spot-the-dog-in-the-herd-of-cows/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Can you spot the dog in the herd of cows?</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/09/is-this-cat-walking-up-or-down-the-stairs/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Is this cat walking up or down the stairs?</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/09/spot-the-owl-hiding-in-the-trees/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Spot the owl hiding in these trees</strong></em></span></a></p>

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Dancers with dementia to perform at Queensland dance festival

<p>A group of dancers living with dementia are preparing to perform at central Queensland's largest dance festival – the Rockhampton Dance Festival.</p> <p>Some of the dancers are from Mercy Aged Care's Leinster Place, a high-care dementia facility.</p> <p>Facility manager Robyn Tetteroo told <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-23/dancers-with-dementia-take-to-the-stage/7871634">ABC Capriocornia</a></strong></span> they first introduced weekly dance classes to help residents with their cognitive abilities, balance and concentration. Although Robyn was initially apprehensive about the suggestion to enter the dance festival, she eventually realised “why not?”</p> <p>"Why should people hide away because they have a diagnosis of dementia?" she said.</p> <p>"Let's show people what they can still do. They're enjoying themselves and having fun in the moment.</p> <p>"Dementia isn't easy and there's a lot of sadness, but you can see people are still able to do things and not be daunted by getting up in public and dancing. They're just enjoying it."</p> <p><img width="500" height="334" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/27950/7871802-3x2-700x467_500x334.jpg" alt="7871802-3x 2-700x 467" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>It was dance teacher Karlie Bellew’s, who has been teaching tap dancing in the dementia unit for over two years, idea to enter the group into the dance festival.</p> <p>"I realised it was about letting people know that once you have a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimers, it's not the end," she said.</p> <p>“You can still participate in the community and in everyday activities."</p> <p>With the assistance of carers, as well as lot of practice repeating moves, we’re sure the dancing troupe will shine on stage. We wish them the best of luck!</p> <p><em>Image credit: <span class="source"><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-23/debbie-biles-leads-aged-care-residents-through-a-dance-routine/7871880" class="inline-caption">ABC Capricornia: Inga Stunzner</a></span></em></p> <p><strong><span class="source">Related links: </span></strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/2016/08/how-to-cope-with-gut-wrenching-loss/"><em>How to cope with gut-wrenching loss</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/2016/08/why-do-women-live-longer-than-men/"><em>Why do women live longer than men?</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/2016/08/dying-patients-given-unnecessary-treatment/">Shocking number of dying patients given unnecessary treatment</a></em></strong></span><span style="font-size: 10px;"> </span></p>

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Meet the retiree cruising the world as a ballroom dancer

<p>In 1993, Jim Longino found a newspaper column advertising an unbeatable deal on luxury cruises – low fares in exchange for work as a “dance host”, available to dance with women who didn’t have a partner. It was the perfect job for the ex-soldier, who had been trained in ballroom dancing as a young man. There was just one problem – he had forgotten many of the dance moves he was expected to perform!</p> <p>“I just faked it,” the now-88-year-old told the <a href="http://www.clarionledger.com/story/magnolia/2016/07/28/cruise-ship-dancer-learns-new-steps-retirement/87563560/" target="_blank"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Clarion Ledger</span></em></strong></a>. “The ladies didn’t know the difference.”</p> <p>But that was just his first cruise. Upon returning to shore, Longino began taking dance classes, improving his skills before setting off to sea again and again. His “work” took him to Australia and New Zealand, as well as all over Europe and America.</p> <p>There were no days off for the retiree, who had mornings off and a two-hour break in the evening for dinner. In the afternoons he gave lessons to passengers, and at 6.30pm it was his time to shine. “You had to be careful to zero in on the single women,” Longino said. “Some of the husbands would allow you to dance with their wives.” However, he was under strict instructions never to start a relationship with the passengers or risk being asked to leave the ship.</p> <p>During his spare time, Longino was free to do whatever he wanted, just like a regular passenger. He spent his free hours at the gym, the pool, even taking shore excursions.</p> <p>Longino’s all-dancing, all-cruising adventure lasted around ten years before he was sadly forced to leave due to the Recession. These days, he’s still as fancy-footed as ever, dancing his way around studios in Jackson, Mississippi, and credits his time at sea with keeping him young and even preventing Alzheimer’s. “It has kept me alive.”</p> <p>What a lucky man! Tell us in the comment section below, what would you love to accomplish in retirement?</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/07/5-juicy-confessions-from-cruise-crewmembers/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 juicy confessions from cruise crewmembers</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/07/why-more-and-more-people-are-retiring-on-a-cruise/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em>Why more and more people are retiring on a cruise</em></strong></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/07/8-of-the-strangest-things-witnessed-by-cruise-goers/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>8 of the strangest things witnessed by cruise-goers</strong></em></span></a></p>

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