Senior Ballerina Inspires Others After 7 Decades of Dancing

“Well soon as I began ballet I loved it.   I love the discipline of it and the challenge of trying to get better, the lovely music.”

Madame Suzelle Poole has been dancing ballet for more than seven decades.  “I don't – I don't know if I have a secret. I just keep at it and God's given me a body that can have that. We're all built differently, for different reasons, to do different kinds of work and my body is built to be a ballet dancer; right?”

Raised in England and Canada, she began dancing when she was 7 and made her professional debut at 10 years old.  “I just enjoyed going to classes and then one day I actually got paid to go on stage to do what I love doing. And I could’ve just been happy with doing ballet classes but it was really an added thing to perform and be paid.

Throughout her career, she’s danced on stages around the world. At 79 years young, her calendar stays booked with performances and she teaches students of all ages at the Royale Ballet Dance Academy in Dallas, Texas.  “We're always trying to improve. And that's another thing about ballet… just to keep trying to improve. We never get there, we're always trying to get better. An extra pirouette, or go higher, or better posture, all the time.

She says her talent and agility are gifts from God.  So, through some of her own choreography, she portrays her grateful heart and expresses praise.  ‘I’m inspired by the music and of course music comes from God, that inspires me. Going up and of course kneeling, like when we bow to God so I incorporate that. I thank God every day for my blessings and the ability to teach and the ability to dance. Everything I do comes from God. I know that.”

Suzelle maintains a healthy diet, takes no prescription medication and dances at least six days a week.  “There's a wonder of feeling if you have a ballet class, a workout. Always feel better after that. And then the day's done. You can go on. Once you've had your ballet lesson, you're ready to do anything, you know?”

Pirouettes, Plies’, and Attitude for living life to the fullest.  “It’s so wonderful. It’s fun being famous so I’m just having fun with it. And I thank God that I can. And I thank God for my health, you see.  I am so grateful. I thank God every day for my blessings.”