Never Stop Dancing: Rediscovering Purpose at The Sequoias San Francisco

A childhood dream, paused but never forgotten.

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.”

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.”

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.

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.

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.