Name of Silver Swans Teacher

Jamelia Gubgub

Studio

The Mosman Bay Sea Scouts Hall
70 Wellington St
Mosman Park 6012

E: vgubgub@bigpond.net.au

About Jamelia

Jamelia grew up in Perth and began her love of dancing by attending Linley Wilson Ballet School. She continued to study dance throughout her school life. Upon leaving school she began dancing with the West Australian Ballet. Following her time with the West Australian Ballet, she danced with Disney on Parade touring around Asia and Australia. Returning to Perth Jamelia danced with several local contemporary and Jazz dance companies. She has a passion for the arts and along with her husband. They are heavily involved in Philanthropic work for many different Art organizations. When not at the ballet studio Jamelia can be found spending time with her family, particularly her dog and cat and her delightful grandchildren; she also loves to cook up a Middle Eastern banquet!

Q and A with Jamelia

What made you choose to become a Silver Swans Licensee?

Our daughter acquired a Ballet School at the end of 2017; so, I said to her well, maybe Mum could help !!!   The Royal Academy of Dance came out with their inaugural course of Silver Swans in Brisbane 2018.  So off I went…

What do you tell people who are interested in becoming a Silver Swan?

Silver Swans is great for so many things. Strength, balance, flexibility, posture and alignment. Upper torso work is terrific for reverse parking, it is also good for peripheral vision, speed and distance, including ones gait, so excellent for social distancing and driving. It is very good for one’s neurological functioning, messages from the brain to the various parts of the body, patterning in the brain of the various steps, keeping in time with the music especially with the different time signatures, understanding the French terminology.  Silver Swans is also very beneficial for one’s memory. All in all, it is brilliant for the brain !!!  Also learning to work as a team or corps de ballet !!!

Within the year, I include a visit to The West Australian Ballet Company; this includes a visit to Wardrobe, watching a whole class and morning tea afterwards.  I will be including a tour of His Majesty’s Theatre with my very dear friend, Ivan King who has an encyclopaedic mind when it comes to all things theatrical in Western Australia.  Ivan has a VAST knowledge of all the old theatres and productions that occurred within them; be it Vaudeville, Circus, Pantomime, Dance, Ballet, Theatre or Musical Theatre, etc., etc.  Within the term structure, I base my dance section of the class on whatever The West Australian Ballet is doing for the current season.  So, if I do not know the choreography, usually being Contemporary, I find a piece of appropriate music or use the same music and choreograph something myself, which is always fun !!! There is always morning tea after class at the local public tea room.

Do any of your Swans take RAD exams or learn any of the RAD syllabus?

No none of my Silver Swans take RAD exams.

Besides the enjoyment of dance, what do you think Silver Swans get out of coming to your classes?

Friendship and care for one another and they certainly get a good giggle in my classes; so, they leave all their problems outside the studio door.

How does dance help build resilience in older women?

I have several women who have health problems, some of them severe.  Others have had and/or are having all sorts of serious issues in life; and Silver Swans Ballet classes give them relief and knowledge that there is joy to be found in this world, with love, care, and community bonding.