ballet dancers please read, advice wanted?

Question

i want to start ballet but i dont know if i should even bother. i kno that ppl lose their flexibility over time, but im 14. i started getting interested when i began doing ballet exercises every morning. i horseback ride and those exercises would help me. The book i use is : The NYC Ballet Workout: Fifty Stretches and Exercises Anyone Can Do For A Strong, Graceful and Sculpted Body. I dont know if there are any qualifications for a dancer but im 14, 5'2" and 100lbs. Ive done research so ik what im getting myself into. I really would like to try but dance is very demanding and i ride on the weekends, play two instruments and sing so i have lessons for those also. it is reccommended that a class is taken 3 times a week to everyday, but i dont want to join a dance troupe or become prima ballerina. I just want to dance for fun and as kinda of a "sport" for school. I dont have much dance expireience either. so HELP!! am i just getting into something or should i go for it. thnx

i dont want to dance because "pretty pink leotards" and the "frilly tutus" either. im not that obsessed. lol

Answer 1

My daughter is 13 yrs old and she is just starting beginner class this year. I was worried she might be to old but yet some teachers have told me if she works extra hard she can catch up.So that's our plan and that's to start now and work hard, real hard

So she is pretty determined to beat the discrimination of age.

I would take class and go as much as your parents budget will allow. If you can go 2 or 3 times a week.
Keep reading your books and watch every ballet performance you can either live in an audience or on TV,DVD
This will help train your mind to think and move like the ballerinas do. Stretch and exercises everyday and stay focused. Do not share your dreams with to many people because many people will crush your hopes. So keep your dreams in your heart and keep your eyes on the goal. You will never believe what negative comments can do to the mind, even if you ignore them they seep in and can cause discouragement without even knowing it.

Just dance and smile and enjoy life.You can have ANYTHING IF YOU FOCUS AND GIVE YOUR WHOLE HEART TO IT!
Allot of people told me I would never be successful in life because I was not real smart in school, my own high school Principal even said that. Now I am 32 yes old and I own a very successful business and make over $100,000 a year and my business is getting bigger and bigger everyday.
That's because I told myself I can do it-

Good Luck
Just do it with all your heart and everything will happen

Answer 2

Gaining the flexibility as all ballet or contemporary dancers have isn't really the goal, just a side effect. The goal is to ge the perfect form and look graceful at the same time, i know when i was teaching ballet i dropped out of the pilates class and yoga cause i was dancing for hours a day and didn't have the time for it, if you want to be en pointe i would start hoping maybe year 3 if you're ready, i would only give it to my lvl 6's and they were going to 8 classes a week in 90 minuites at a time also actors make the best dancers and vise versa just keep that in mind, i'm a triple threat too

Answer 3

If you aren't into ballet to become a professional ballerina, then classes once or twice a week should be fine for you. You may have to be in a class with younger kids, or you may want to take a beginner adult class, but it shouldn't be a problem. In fact, ballet would be very very good for you.

Unfortunately, horseback riding isn't great for ballet other than the flexibility of the ankles/feet. You spend so much time with your inner thigh muscles clenched and unstretched that it can inhibit your ballet turnout. Your balance and posture are also completely different. I'm not saying that it's not possible, but it can be very difficult. I 'taught' myself the splits and was an avid horeseback rider at 14, so flexibility isn't completely impossible.

Good luck to you!! : )

Answer 4

I was exactly the same way when I was your age. I didn't get to start ballet until I was 18. I started pointe when I turned 20. I definitely think you should go for it. It's not too late. You seem very driven. I bet you'll be up to speed as the rest of the dancers in a couple of years.

NYCB workout is a GREAT book. Kudos to you.

The only way you're going to get better at dancing is if you actually dance. So waste no more time wondering and go for it.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

My friend started about 2 months ago. sheis 14 too(like me!) AND, she ias now on Pointe, even if you don't want to go on pointe, this is just a incentive, to tell you how much you can improve, she had no prior dance training and wasn't extremily flexible. She used the same book as you to!!!!
Start ballet even though you don't want to be a prima ballerina, ypu might fall in love witht the art of it and change your mind!

Answer 6

i am 21 years old and i have been dancing from the time i was 4 .... now i teach dance part time at a small studio and let me tell you i get girls coming in there at 18 to take there first dance lesson.... dance comes from your soul and heart and if you have the discipline you can no matter what age you are i say you go for it....it will be to late when your gone you only live once.... have fun and enjoy you self.... age is only a number and you are only as old as you feel..... dance is fun and i find it to re-leave a lot of stress it will only help you in the future... i hope i have helped you or at least gave you something to think about....

Answer 7

do ballet! its the greatest reward ever,ive been doing ballet since i was 3 and i still love it, if you have your heart set on going 2 a big school for ballet, it probably wont happen because you are so old, but try taking ballet classes in your town or city, it'll be hard at first, but i kno you will love it!

Answer 8

Horseback riding is the worst thing for dancers! You use your muscles totally different for horseback riding than you do for Ballet. By horseback riding you have conditioned your muscles in a way that will hinder your ballet abilities. I suggest you choose a different form of dance like tap or jazz.

Answer 9

That's great, ballet is so healthy for you. Try a YMCA, they usually have once-weekly classes for health.

Answer 10

do ballet! I have since I was 3. I love it ! As you get older
the bigger the part you get!