At an age when most people have long since retired, one remarkable ballet instructor continues to pirouette through life with the same passion she discovered nearly a century ago. Helga de Kansky, who will celebrate her 100th birthday this December, remains an active dance teacher in Pasadena, California, defying every expectation about aging and dedication.
De Kansky’s relationship with ballet began in 1931 when she was just six years old in Kansas during the difficult years of the Great Depression. Her childhood passion eventually led her to New York City, where she refined her skills and launched a professional career that took her to prestigious stages around the globe.
“I just love dancing. It’s what I really like to do,” de Kansky said.
From international stages to family life
After years of international performances, de Kansky made the decision to step away from touring to focus on family. She became a wife and mother to four children, and later welcomed six grandchildren into her life. However, her passion for dance never diminished.
When asked about her decision to begin teaching, de Kansky explained, “Well I have to put it this way, I was kind of reliving my dancing days, you know.”
A quarter century of teaching excellence
For the past 25 years, de Kansky has made the journey from Sierra Madre to the Pasadena Dance Theatre twice weekly to teach her students. Her classes attract adult dancers ranging from ages 30 to 50, who consistently express amazement at their instructor’s vitality and innovative approach.
Student Oksana Sanderfur shared her perspective on learning from de Kansky: “She’s very creative. All of her combinations and choreography is always new and fresh. We all try to keep up with her, and sometimes it’s hard to keep up with the 99-year-old even at 30 or 40 or 50.”
Resilience in the face of health challenges
Not even a recent hospitalization for pneumonia could dampen de Kansky’s determination to continue teaching. Looking ahead to her centennial birthday, she shared her outlook: “I look forward to living as long as possible, and being able to make life worth it.”
The physical demands of ballet make de Kansky’s continued teaching all the more impressive. The classical dance form requires significant muscular strength, precise balance, and the ability to execute complex movement sequences. These challenges become increasingly difficult with age as joints naturally lose flexibility and muscle mass decreases. Maintaining the mental acuity, physical coordination, and stamina to teach ballet at 99 represents an extraordinary achievement.
