The Ballet Bible
Discover the Secrets to Conquering Some of The Most Common Pitfalls You Face When Learning Ballet
Destined for professional BalletHi, I’m 12 and I’ve been doing ballet for about 6 months and jazz since I was five. I love ballet though I have the dancer gene natural musicality. I want to go professional but I dont think my mum wants me to be a dancer. I know I could. I’m not bragging but i look good when i dance. I train once a week for half an hour in grade two. My dance school doesnt offer professional training so I’d have to leave my studio if i wanted to get good but its quite exspensive at other places. If i stayed at my studio i would go on pointe at 16. Is that to late to go proffessional? I’ve got quite strong feet. I can stand on pointe in socks what should i do please help !!!!!!!!!! December 6, 2006 | In Questions |18 Comments »RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI Leave a comment |
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I would just talk to your mum and tell her that “This is what i really want to do!” and she should understand. And if the cost is a worry. Look for the good little studios. No one really knows about and they can be really good! Hope this is helpful .. Dylan
Comment by Dylan — December 7, 2006 #
You are a very late starter,but sometimes late starters can make it. sometimes. The pro ballet world is a very tough place to be,it is highly competitive,and you said you train for half an hour a week but im sure you meant an hour and a half,but even an hour and half a week is very very very little,at your age,most aspiring dancers are taking probably about 10 hours a week. As for starting pointe at 16,that is verrrrrryyyyyyyyy late,way to late to go on pointe considering most 16 year old dancers that are aspiring to be a pro dancer have already basicly started thier career,having done pointe since they were about your age,but you arent reay for pointe more than likly because of you age and amount of training,you probably dont have enough strength for pointe work yet. As for standing en pointe in socks,people who dont dance can do this,my first year pre ballet(about 2-4 years old) can do this,Im sorry to say that this does not mean you have very strong feet,though it does not say that you dont. and if your parents dont want to pay the money or help in your dancing career,it makes it very hard because ,most pro dancers had very dedicated parents. I feel really bad if I just crushed your dreams,but I’m only telling you the truth and not wanting you to get realllllyyyyyy into the idea and have it really hurt later.
Comment by Avie' — December 8, 2006 #
i say u should really do want you want to do professionally maybe your mum will learn to love what you do. 16 coould be too late but not necessary you should try to be doin more classes at the moment and begg ur mum to let u do more clases and just do what your heart tells u.. i love dancing too
Comment by sally — December 8, 2006 #
Going on pointe at 16, the train will have already left the station. Once a week, half an hour, and you are 12? I know 12 year olds who take 4 times a week for 1 1/2 hours. Others take more than that. You need a professional school if you are serious.
The fact you can stand on pointe in your socks means, I am sorry, not much. It’s the rest of your technique that is going to count.
Find a school that can really help you.
Comment by Zoe — December 8, 2006 #
If you’ve been dancing for only six months, and for only an hour and a half, it’s really too early still for you to know if you’ll even want to be a professional ballerina. I understand that right now ballet is all very new and exciting for you, but don’t get ahead of yourself. Just because you can stand on your toes or have the “dancer gene natural musicality”doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to be a professional ballerina: it takes much, much more than that. There’s no way for you or anyone else to know that this point if you could, as much as I know you’d like to believe it. For right now, my advice is to stay at your studio, and in a couple of years, if you’re still as enthusiastic as you are now, you can consider looking into other options.
Comment by audreyelise — December 9, 2006 #
well you shouldnt be going on pointe in socks… you might/will ruin your feet!
Comment by Nobody — December 9, 2006 #
By the age of 12 I was dancing 6 days a week (approx 10 hours a week)
The prodiment professional age is 16/17. For a 12 year to go professional you should be in Intermeddiate foundation or close to it. If seeking to be professional I would reccomend dancing atleast 4 days a week and going to well known, professional rep skool. Goodluck with your dancing!
P.S NEVER GO ON POINT BAREFEET/OR WITH SOCKS ON… VERY DANGEROUS… YOU NEED TO THE CORRECT SUPPORT!!!
Comment by Martina — December 10, 2006 #
Guys we have a very young sould here. please take care when giving comments.
Also remember that some of our finest dancers started at late ages 16-19 so nothing is impossible. (Nureyev was 17 is a fine example).
My suggestion would be to write down your goals (say a list of 5-10 goals), show them to mum and explain that this is what you want to achieve by X date and could she please help you achieve each step at the time. i am sure that mum would be honoured to be asked in the first instance and she then also becomes part of your journey. (sometimes it is hard for parents looking from the outside into the world of ballet and dance. we need to educate them too!). Secondly, perhaps try and find a school that offers scholarships so that you can take those much needed extra classes and perhaps classes that can get you ready for pre-pointe assessment. I wish you good luck and every success with your ambitions. You obviously have the confidence and self esteem so you are half way there. Good Luck.
Comment by Tracy Stewart — December 10, 2006 #
i think u should go for it i dance for nz royal ballet and i was kinda like u , tell ur mum u want to go pro practise hard good luck its never too late and avie dont put her of her dreams i started real late and look where i am auditioning for a scholorship to london i dont see u dancing for a company
Comment by lea mrigern — December 15, 2006 #
Hello!
I am just adding to the repsonses re: Nureyev starting at age 17. He may have been 17ish when accepted into the 6th year of training. He had private but serious training (at that time would have been called a ’studio’ in a Palace of culture for youth with professional teachers) at I believe starting age 9ish or so. He did not BEGIN to study ballet at age 17: just wanted to clarify that at the time in Russia he would not have been accepted as a beginner into the professional ballet school at age 17 into 6th year. Still wouldn’t!
As for the original post, perhaps it might be a good idea to speak to your parents about your dream to study more!
Good luck with your endevours.
Comment by jj — December 22, 2006 #
To:lea mrigern
You have no clue about me,and you don’t know where I dance. In fact,I do dance with a professional company.I also dance with SAB in the summer. I have a very high chance of getting into NYCB. Next time,think before you type.I wasn’t trying to be mean,or be a dream crusher,I was just trying to be realistic instead of just living in a dream world,because Ballet isn’t a dream world.
Comment by Avie' — January 3, 2007 #
p.s. never said it was impossible for her,said >sometimes
Comment by Avie' — January 3, 2007 #
Firstly: Please, please don’t go en pointe untill you have been told you are ready by a qualified teacher, you can really injure your self if you try to start too early, even if your doing it without pointe shoes.
Okay now thats over, if you really want to do this than talk to your Mum, maybe she’ll understand, maybe you’ll be luckier than me, ballet was also my dream, I had done it since I was 5 and really wantde to go pro, but my parents wouldn’t let me, because I got high marks in my accademic studies, they quashed my dreams so that even if I had a chance, I wasn’t aloud to go for it, and I am now studying a biology degree, I still do ballet but only as a obby, don’t let the same thing happen to you.
Abbie
Comment by Abbie — January 12, 2007 #
16 years old? wayyyy too late. most girls are trying out for companys by then. im 14 and i dance around 15 hours a week not including privates. 1 1/2 hours a weeks will get u no where. if u really want to make it in the ballet world definitely move to another studio. maybe even try to get a few private lessons to help get on pointe faster. as for your parents..i have the same situation. but, explain to them how much dance means to you and dont let them ruin your dream. its your life, not theirs.
Comment by jaime — January 29, 2007 #
^ I totally agree with Jaime It is YOUR life. I’m blessed with parents that tell me all the time that my life is theirs and they do anything for me.
Comment by Avie' — January 29, 2007 #
hi guys im the girl that posted the qeustion i am now dancieng 7 hours a week i have and audition 4 nz ballet soon thanks 4 ur tips it all worked out im comming along really fast love lilly
Comment by lily — February 9, 2007 #
Well good on you lilly!!!!
I was much like you. I started ballet at the age of 14 although it only took me 6months to get on pointe (had been dancing other types since i was 4) and now I am dancing with the american ballet company and an assistant teacher!!! I am glad you followed your dreams because ballet will deliver you so much in your life. It’s the best!!! lots of love
Hannah
Comment by Hannah — April 11, 2007 #
hi just an update its lilly again i did not get into the nz ballet but i havnt given up i did a competition last term wich i placed second i did part of the blue bird variation and i have slowly but steadily begun pointe work ! im getting there and my ambition is to go to appollo dance school
Comment by lilly — September 24, 2007 #