Janie Hampton started ballet at the age of 46. “No, we don’t wear tutus. No, we don’t dance on points – can you imagine what 12 stone of fat and gristle would do to those tiny bones in my toes? No, I haven’t lost any weight, but I am definitely a lot more supple and I can stand on one leg for a lot longer. My French has improved too – though I haven’t found many uses for croise devant, sur le cou-de-pied or temp de flêche when I’m on holiday.”