Rosemary Hepözden is on a mission to perfect her pirouette.
The 65-year-old Auckland writer tells Jesse Mulligan ballet has become her passion in the last five years.
Rosemary Hepözden Photo: Supplied
Rosemary says she was "definitely the odd one out" at her first adult ballet class - most people were closer to 20.
Waiting for the class to start, she took several photos of her own feet in new pink ballet slippers "cause I thought it was a sight we might not see again".
Eventually, Rosemary found a group of Auckland dancers in their 60s and 70s called the Senior Swans.
"We take ballet seriously but we don't mind laughing at ourselves and we don't mind our own shortcomings."
"I tend to, for the rest of my life, to live pretty much up in my head. To have to communicate through a physical means is quite challenging so I've enjoyed learning about that. And it's a respite from everything else going on in your life."
Not otherwise "an exercise-y sort of person" Rosemary now feels flexible and stronger than ever.
For a year now she's been working on "the quintessential move" in ballet - the pirouette.
More than just a big physical challenge - Rosemary strengthens her legs 3 times a week with a personal trainer - the pirouette is also an emotional and mental challenge, she says.
"We're laying down new neural pathways when we do all of that."
It was terrifying trying to spin around on the spot the first time, Rosemary says.
"It looks so simple and graceful but there's an awful lot going on under the surface."
In March this year, Rosemary completed her first full turn, and next year her pirouette might be ready to share with an audience.
"I would be so chuffed if I can actually stand on one foot and spin around in a graceful manner any time soon."
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