The Ballet Bible
Discover the Secrets to Conquering Some of The Most Common Pitfalls You Face When Learning Ballet
Is it too late for me to have a career in ballet?I have always loved to dance. Recently, though a series of events, I was inspired to finally seek formal training. I’m just getting started, but already ballet is my life. I just turned 15, and I have a terrible feeling that it is too late. Please be honest. Realistically, is it too late to plan on having a career in ballet? August 9, 2006 | In Questions |20 Comments »RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI Leave a comment |
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Hey I am almost years old and I started dancing 2 years ago, and I want to go prefessional!!! I think if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish ANYTHING!!!
Comment by Bailey — August 10, 2006 #
–17 years old, sorry bout that (up above)
Comment by Bailey — August 10, 2006 #
There’s a very, very, very small chance that you could go pro. With only a handful of exceptions, all professional ballet dancers started very young. This doesn’t mean that you can’t progress within in ballet. There are a lot of really talented dancers who aren’t professional. Never stop dancing.
Comment by K — August 12, 2006 #
I’m 19 and I’ve always wanted to do Ballet. My mother never paid me classes but did it for my sisters.
At 19 I also wonder if I am too old to do Ballet so you’re not alone to worry about that.
Comment by Marlayne — August 13, 2006 #
I agree, usually dancers start training very young…but if you’re dedicated enough and train hard enough you might have a chance…Good Luck!!
Comment by Jen — August 14, 2006 #
i am at that same promble i am 12 and i want to start ballet but i wonder if its to late for me but i am going to keep trying so u sound not give up
Comment by rachel — August 15, 2006 #
You could be a dance teacher
Comment by Rachel — August 15, 2006 #
I’m 48 years old and just started en pointe this year. I’m certainly not a professional but I have performed with our local group. If you love it - DO IT!
Comment by christine — August 16, 2006 #
What about for Men. Did all professional men start young too?
Comment by Ty — August 19, 2006 #
I’ve read somewhere that men can start somewhat later than women, because they are in greater demand due to the fact that there are so few of them in the industry.
This does not mean, however, that you don’t have to work really hard to go pro.
Comment by firebirdjewel — August 29, 2006 #
I’m 15 and I just started ballet. I had my first class this week. I talked to the teacher at the local ballet school, and instead of putting me in the very very beginner class, she put me into pre-pointe. I was able to keep up fairly well. I’m a little bit older than most of the girls in that class (they’re all 9-12) but it was lots of fun, and I really didn’t feel that far behind. I think you should talk to your local ballet teacher, and maybe arrange a few private lessons before you start taking regular classes.
Comment by Lana — August 30, 2006 #
Hi! Well I just wanted to say that I feel so much better to know that there are people who have the same concerns as me- my parents would never let me dance when I was younger either, so I started at 17 (senior in high school) and took basic ballet for a few months, and then again my freshman year of college, basic ballet for a few months until I got so busy with choir I had to quit… but anytime I haven’t been dancing I’ve been so miserable… I honestly feel something that’s like nothing else when I’m dancing, even though I’ve only done technique stuff. Well, here I am, 19 years and I’m about to start my first real class… one that prepares for a recital and everything. I get to learn an actual dance. I am so excited, but also nervous. sometimes I feel really dumb but then I just have to remember that I’m doing what makes me happy… do ya’ll think I’m ridiculous?
Comment by Mallory — August 31, 2006 #
You can still be amazing in ballet even if you don’t go pro. Maybe after a while you could participate in local productions or something like that. Anyway, just keep dancing and always try to enjoy yourself.
Comment by jul — September 3, 2006 #
hey…..omg i know exactly what your talking about…i just started (and im 15) and i alrealy LOVE ballet, and i would LOVE to go pro. i kno its not completly realistic, but thats all i really want to do!! but ya, u should definatly keep trying!!
Comment by Casey — October 8, 2006 #
DON’T DO WHAT I DID!! I started at 10 and, after looking around and realizing I was in class with 6-year-olds, gave up right then and there. The only reason I kept with it was because I had a crush on the guy whose parents ran the studio (embarrassing…). Now I’m SO glad I stuck with it. Two years ago (I was 14) I looked around class agian and saw that, yes, I was in class with some 8 to 10-year-olds, but I was also with some other girls my age and was by far not the worst. That was also when my crush on the director’s son finally went away, and I realized for the first time that I loved ballet for what it was, not for this guy. Since then, I’ve suddenly become motivated and have been working so hard, I feel like I’ve progressed more in just the last 6 months than in the rest of my ballet career but together. It’s amazing- every day I come away from class smiling and thinking about the new steps I got, how hard I worked my extension that day, etc, and NOT about whether or not I looked good in my leotard for the director’s son. I can’t help wondering where I would be now if I had, like you, set my mind on more than just looking pretty in class from when I was 10. I gave up then, but now I realize that, at 10, I still had a chance to “make it”. My message to you is that if you love ballet, you can do anything. If you care about the social factor or anything else, you’re doomed. If only I had your mindset when I was 10!
Comment by Audrey Elise — October 10, 2006 #
Sorry! I really don’t want to crush your dreams but I’m thirteen, and my ballet teacher said that unless you’re en pointe by age 13 (I started at 10) you can forget about it. Experiment with modern or jazz, which require less training
Comment by Carrie — December 13, 2006 #
Hey, I’m 17 and I started ballet when I was 13, I was totally crap and forever trying to catch up, I always got discouraged by bluntly realistic ballet teachers telling me that I didnt really have a chance, but I’m still doing it and work really hard and have realyy caught up a lot, 13 isn’t too late to start, it’s hard work but anything good is, obviously it would have helped a lot if i’d started when i was 3 but I love it and have got into a skool and am doing full-time next year, I’m chasing my dream and loving it, so there’s no reason why anybody else shouldn’t, seriously I know it’s cheesy but there are only so many tomorows, lol anyway keep dancing!
Comment by Soph — December 19, 2006 #
just give it your best shot and see wht happens, if you work extra hard and put in the time and effort then i’m sure you will get there in the end
Comment by Ashley — January 19, 2007 #
hey I started ballet at 11 and i was in a class with 8 year olds i loved it but since then ive been to 4 different dance schools and finally in september of last year i settled in to a local school. I love it we do just more then ballet. I think that anyone wanting to start ballet and go for a career in it go for it. Take advice from members of ballet schools and your teacher. Dont rush ahead of yourself remeber that your technique has to be up to scratch for ur level. My friend was at grade 5 in ballet not done pas de deux or jumps/ lifts and he is at a top dance college in the uk. Its not what you do a wise dance teacher told me its the way you do it. Say you stand in first and do a retere’ your foot must be streatch and your arms supported as you lift you leg you must have the correct position and balance othe wise youll make a fool of yourself. Remeber ballet is an art take it seriously enjoy it and you wont be wasting you time.
Comment by stacey — February 1, 2007 #
I started ballet less than a year ago and I’m 17. I did do it for a couple years when i was younger. But its hard starting again after 5 or more years. Yes it is tough, because if you start late you will be in a class with girls much younger than you. I definately am. But the main thing is, I love ballet. I don’t want to go proffesional, that isn’t my dream, unlike others here. Don’t get discouraged if you truely love to dance
Comment by Hannah — February 7, 2007 #