One Woman’s Journey from Beginner to Ballerina at Ottawa Ballet Studio
With no prior dance experience, Sandra Stratton began ballet as an adult and, just four years later, achieved her dream of dancing en pointe.
By Jena Lynde-Smith
Ballet is mesmerizing—and for most people, it’s enjoyed from the seats of an auditorium. Productions like The Nutcracker sell out every holiday season, captivating audiences worldwide.
While it’s a beautiful art form to see, most wouldn’t dream of trying it themselves — it seems like a discipline reserved for the elite or for those who have danced all their lives.
Sandra Statton was one of these people. But in 2018, at 53 and craving something new, she decided to try a lunchtime ballet class for adults. The all-levels class, taught by Daphné Paquette, was held at a studio just a few blocks from her workplace in Ottawa’s Glebe. Little did she know, just six years later, she’d be performing on stage, en pointe.
“If you would have told me six years ago that I’d be doing this, I would have laughed,” she says. “Now, ballet has changed my life.”
Starting from scratch
When Sandra began training under Daphné, she had limited dance experience; just eight months of ballet as an eleven-year-old competitive gymnast. Starting as a virtual beginner, she spent her first few years focused on mastering the basics.
Beginner classes at the Westboro studio emphasize fundamentals, starting with barre exercises to build balance and strength. Students learn port de bras, the graceful movement of the arms, as well as travelling steps across the floor. Over time, they progress to pirouettes (turns on one foot) and allegro work, which focuses on jumps. Each exercise is taught at a slow, deliberate pace to ensure proper technique.
“I aim to create an inclusive environment that allows dancers of all ages and levels to explore the physical and artistic aspects of ballet,” Daphné says. “It’s important to focus on strong technical foundations while maintaining a sense of the joy of movement.”
This patient and methodical approach resonated with Sandra. She quickly progressed to elementary and intermediate levels, but her journey hit a pause when COVID-19 forced classes online. When Daphné opened her own studio in 2021, at 450 Churchill Avenue North, Sandra eagerly returned to in-person training.
“I have a ballet studio in my house, but there’s something about the energy of being in a class—I just find so much joy there,” she said.
Dreams don’t have deadlines
Shortly after returning to in-person classes, Sandra set a new goal: dancing en pointe. This advanced ballet technique—balancing on the tips of the toes—is a hallmark of ballerinas and requires exceptional strength, balance and precision.
For Daphné, ensuring her adult dancers are prepared for pointe work is a top priority.
“Dancing en pointe is about strength and mobility regardless of the age of the dancer. Longevity is key; we only get one body,” she says.
To prepare her dancers, Daphné incorporates rigorous training and runs a series of readiness tests, including strength, flexibility and stability assessments. For dancers over 50, she also requires a bone density test to minimize the risk of injury.
Sandra embraced the challenge wholeheartedly. Alongside her regular classes, she attended workshops focused on conditioning. She also worked with Mélanie Fiala, an athletic therapist and ballet dancer who previously worked with the National Ballet of Canada. She provided treatment for Sandra’s hip and back while also creating a personalized conditioning routine to enhance her dance progress.
“I was taking classes around urs per week and doing a 45-minute conditioning routine at home every other day,” says Sandra.
And it paid off. After less than a year of hard work, Sandra passed Daphné pointe assessment on her first try.
“I drove to Toronto shortly thereafter to get fitted for my first pointe shoes,” she says. “It was surreal and definitely a bucket list moment.”
Dancing through life
Since getting en pointe, Sandra has scaled back her classes to two days a week, to manage strain on her body. But her dedication hasn’t wavered.
In December of last year, she stepped out of her comfort zone and performed in two different variations at her first recital, Rêverie: A Ballet Repertoire Showcase.
“I wasn’t perfect by any stretch, but I faced my fear and danced for a paying crowd,” she says.
Ballet has also carried over into other parts of Sandra’s life, transforming her physical fitness and self-confidence. Activities that once felt challenging, like climbing a steep hill at her cottage, now come with ease.
“The only fitness I do now is ballet,” she says. “I hold myself differently and I’m more comfortable in my body.”
Stratton’s journey isn’t about perfection; it’s about personal growth. Next on her list: mastering pirouettes en pointe.
“I will never be a professional ballerina, but I don’t do it for other people. I do it for me,” she says. “If you love it, you can do it. Age should never be a factor.”
As Daphné says, “Dreams don’t have deadlines.”
