Graceful as SWANS

Pamela Wagg’s world changed when she lost her husband but, through dance, she’s found a way forward

- KATHLEEN NORTH

When Pamela Wagg’s beloved husband Michael died in 2017, she felt lost and alone.

He passed away in August, aged 64, after a battle with a debilitating lung disease and, just like that, Pam’s life had changed overnight.

‘The roles I’d played of wife, carer, lover, confidante and friend were suddenly defunct,’ Pam, 62, from Derbyshire, explains.

‘We did everything together. Now I was alone, my future was uncertain and scary.’

Like many newly alone individuals, dealing with grief, loss and a sense of isolation, Pam struggled through the first weeks simply going through the motions – eat, work, sleep, repeat.

‘My wonderful family and friends supported me, but they weren’t my husband. The grief couldn’t be explained in words,’ she says.

It was just by chance one morning when Pam put her TV on – more for company than anything – that she saw a BBC news interview with Angela Rippon. She was at the Royal Academy of Dance talking to some women about the benefits of dance.

Angela went on to say it was a proven fact that dance keeps your body young. This grabbed Pam’s attention immediately. The programme explained how the Royal Academy was rolling out Silver Swans classes throughout the UK. These ballet classes are aimed at anyone over 55, with or without ballet experience. Anyone who was interested could add an email address to RAD’s mailing list and they would be informed of any classes in their area.

‘I remember staring at the TV that morning and thinking “I want to do that!”’, reveals Pam. ‘I was qualified – so to speak – I was over 55, with no ballet experience!’