How does The Sequoias San Francisco support residents in pursuing their passions, like Philippe's ballet?

The story of Philippe rediscovering ballet at 73 exemplifies the community's encouragement for residents to engage in activities they love. The Sequoias San Francisco aims to provide an environment where individuals can continue to grow and explore new interests.

What does it mean that The Sequoias San Francisco is a "life plan community"?

The Sequoias San Francisco is described as a life plan community, which typically offers a continuum of care. This means residents can access various levels of support, from independent living to assisted living, as their needs evolve within the same community.

What kind of community can I expect at The Sequoias San Francisco, based on resident stories like Philippe's?

Philippe's story highlights a resident with a rich and varied background, from working with the Red Cross to becoming a psychotherapist. The Sequoias San Francisco fosters a community where individuals with diverse life experiences can connect and continue to pursue their passions.

News & Resources

Never Stop Dancing: Rediscovering Purpose at The Sequoias San Francisco

Never Stop Dancing | The Sequoias San Francisco resident, Philippe, older adult in a black outfit performing a stretching or balancing exercise in a dance studio. The person has short white hair and is leaning to one side with one arm extended, using a ballet barre for support. There are mirrors on the wall reflecting the scene, and the studio has wooden flooring and light-colored walls adorned with decorative panels.

A childhood dream, paused but never forgotten.

Quick Answer

Older adults can rediscover and pursue lifelong passions, such as ballet, even in their senior years, as exemplified by Philippe Berthoud, a 73-year-old resident at The Sequoias San Francisco. Participating in activities like ballet offers significant benefits for older adults, including improved balance and strength, enhanced mental engagement, and a profound spiritual experience, aligning with Sequoia Living's "Never Stop Growing" philosophy. At The Sequoias, these classes are led by professional instructors affiliated with institutions like the San Francisco Ballet School, adapting movements for all abilities and often featuring a live pianist to enrich the experience.

For Philippe Berthoud, a resident of The Sequoias San Francisco since 2022, ballet began as a quiet wish. As a child growing up in Switzerland, he wanted to dance, but the dream was not encouraged. Life unfolded. At Geneva University, getting a master’s degree in Political Science. As a novice monk in a Trappist monastery. In Asia and Africa, working for the International Red Cross. In the Bay Area, becoming a psychotherapist and teaching at John F. Kennedy University. A long marriage.
The dream waited.

Years later, at the young age of 73, he rediscovered it at The Sequoias. “It was a revelation,” Philippe said. “From the first class, I loved it. I knew this was for me.”

How Does Ballet Support Growth and Engagement at The Sequoias?

At The Sequoias, the guiding philosophy is simple: Never Stop Growing. Growth does not end at retirement. It continues in new forms, sometimes in ways you least expect.

For Philippe, growth looks like ballet.

The class is held in the community auditorium and is led by a professional instructor affiliated with the San Francisco Ballet School. The instructor is experienced in teaching adult beginners. Movements are adapted for every ability, whether standing at the barre or participating from a chair. A live pianist often fills the room with music.

It is not simply exercise. It is artistry. It is focus. It is shared experience.

“You have to concentrate,” Philippe explains. “You learn new steps. It engages your brain.”

Balance improves. Strength builds. The mind sharpens.

And something deeper unfolds. “It’s a spiritual experience,” Philippe said. “When you create beauty, you connect with something greater.”

The Benefits of Ballet for Older Adults

While ballet is beautiful, it is also deeply physical. For older adults, it supports balance, flexibility, posture, coordination, and strength. Research continues to show that dance can benefit mobility and brain health.

“Running was like being on autopilot,” Philippe reflects on being a runner for many years. “In ballet, you must focus your attention. You learn combinations. The choreography engages your brain.” The mind and body work together. Focus sharpens. Confidence grows. And then comes joy.

Growing older is not about less. It is about more depth. More beauty. More you.

Why Did Philippe Choose Urban Living at The Sequoias San Francisco?

Philippe has lived at The Sequoias San Francisco for four years. After becoming widowed, he was living alone in the suburbs when he suffered a serious shoulder fracture while running. Recovering without a nearby family made one thing clear. Aging alone was not the right path forward.

He chose a Life Plan Community in San Francisco for connection, culture, and access to the arts. That decision now allows him not only to take ballet classes at The Sequoias, but also to attend additional classes across the city.

Urban senior living gives him freedom to explore.

How Do Residents Live Fully at The Sequoias San Francisco?

At The Sequoias San Francisco, residents continue to evolve. They revisit passions once set aside. They try new things. They deepen friendships. With a full continuum of support available, there is reassurance for the future, allowing space to focus on the present.

Philippe’s story reflects something powerful about healthy aging. Dreams do not expire. Identity continues to unfold. Some chapters are meant to be lived fully.

For Philippe, that chapter begins at the ballet barre, moving with intention and grace.

He has no plans to stop.