Of Football and Ballet

By Sondra Forsyth

Not long ago, I was at a performance of the New York City Ballet’s “Swan Lake” when I noticed that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was seated near me. Leaving aside his politics, the Papa Johns controversy, and Conor McGregor’s whiskey, I was delighted to see Jones at the ballet.

And I wasn’t surprised. I knew that way back in 1968, the year before Jones purchased the Cowboys, the team’s Running Back Herschel Walker performed with the Fort Worth Ballet. Walker had studied ballet in college. Clearly, the Cowboys have a long-standing appreciation of ballet. Walker was quoted as saying in a New York Times article by Thomas C. Hayes, ”Ballet is very tough and I was thrilled to get the chance. . . I’ve got great flexibility for a guy my size and that helps. Some football players are so stiff they can’t raise their arms above their head.”

One reason this interests me is that when I was studying ballet as a child and teen, my father organized ballet classes for the Detroit Lions. He was the team’s physician/trainer, and he was very impressed with what the physical aspects of ballet raining involved. Other professional football teams have also studied ballet. And Jerry Jones himself does know how to bust a move. Witness his dance in this commercial.

So, as I said, I wasn’t surprised to see Jones at the ballet. He clearly enjoyed the performance and made some knowledgeable comments when a man who recognized him came over to chat. I spoke with him briefly, a moment I later related to my younger grandson who is a huge Cowboys’ fan.

If there’s a lesson here, it’s that taking ballet classes, even as an adult beginner, is good for body and soul – and watching ballet other than just The Nutcracker isn’t an esoteric or elitist pursuit. Why not check out the adult ballet classes offered in your area, if you aren’t already enrolled? I think you’ll be pleased with the results if you start taking class. If Walker at 223 pounds could do it,  you can as well.

On with the dance!

Sondra Forsyth is a Co-Editor-in-Chief of thirdAGE.com.