Should I go to college first or dance ballet?

Answer 1

why don't you do both? you could get a 'regular' education, or you could major in ballet, or do both. one of my friends is a journalism and ballet double major. that way you can still get your education without putting it off and you can build up your resume by participating in the schools dance program.

i'm assuming that you are already an amazing dancer with some job opportunities since you are debating this, but i still think that the best idea would be to do both. that way, God forbid something would happen that would shorten your dancing career, you'll have something to fall back on. good luck with everything!

Answer 2

How about doing both? You can go to college and dance ballet too. Your school might even have a ballet company that you can try out to be on and dance with them. And in the same time you can get a college degree in whatever else you're interested in. It's all up to you of course. If you've been offered a great ballet job that you might want to take it because you won't be able to dance for too long. But you need to think about your future too. Do you just want to do ballet or you would like to have a career in something else? Analyze your interests and plan accordingly. You're the only one who really knows what to do. Good luck! You'll make the best decision that will make you happy.

Answer 3

Sarah,
Many of the answers so far received are very good and helpful. I can't make the "right" choice for you because I'm not you. My take on your situation is that you can only have a career in ballet dancing when you are young. Many people settle down to study very effectively when they are older; but drive and willpower is required to do this.
Had you thought of doing "open" learning; such as the Open University at the same time as pursuing your ballet career. The Open University is VERY flexible and the Tutors make every effort to help people fit their learning around their busy lives.
What is hard for a young person is that if you are "finding", say an hour or so a day to study it eats into your social life.
As a ballet dancer you would probably perform in the evenings and get mornings off; which you could use to fit in some study.
If the ballet career ends early; you can take your open learning qualifications to a conventional College or University to show you have drive to succeed academically.Many open learning courses give a certificate each year as proof of some study done. In the OU you add 6 of these courses up to get your pass degree BA..
You don't need to study for six years solid you can finish each annual couse and bank the year's Credit. and have a study break. Make sure that you get the full details about the Ballet and College options before making any important decision.
Many people use a Pros/Cons table to help them decide. Get a sheet of paper ond draw a vertical line down the middle. After getting ALL the facts affecting your choice you write the PROs ( facts in favour of one option) on the left of the sheet. On the right of the sheet you write the CONs (facts against doing that option). When you have finished this table the ratio of Pros to Cons can show you where YOUR personal choice lies.However, 1 or 2 individual points may be so important to YOU that they totally "swing" it.
Good Luck in your Career, Sarah.

Answer 4

You have not indicated your merits as a ballet dancer but if you are debating the matter you must have the confidence necessary to make the move at this time.

Most of the responses here advised you to go to college first; many have suggested you major in dance (ballet). "Have your cake and eat it too!" Good advice, give it your utmost consideration.

And now, before I give my advice, I must ask an unpleasant question: are you struggling with the decision because dancing is "fun" at this time in your life and college might just require too much boring "work?" If so, you are probably not mature enough to go in either direction. Stay home, find a job at Wendy's, and hope for the best. This said (and I hope the foregoing is truly not your dilemma), I offer the following advice for your very careful consideration.

You are young, your body and soul is eager to fly, so ... fly! There may come a time when the soul is still young but the body has begun to protest, flying becomes coasting and eagerness has turned to routine. Fly now, let your college education take place when you are ready to rest your wings ... if only for a little while.

The older you get the more your mind has absorbed through observation and experience and the easier it becomes to succeed and even excel in academics. There will always be time for education; the time for dance may fade faster than you may wish.

I speak from much experience and long in years. I was a high school drop-out, set out to see the world at a very young age and more than satisfied my "itch" by the time I was 38 (with no regrets). Academic studies began for me at 38 and by 42 I was teaching high school art. When I finally retired I was a school superintendent. Following retirement I spent nearly 2 more years in college in order to become certified in barbering. There is always time for education. There can always be new challenges.

Therefore ... if you have the necessary confidence to dare to succeed in dance, go for it. Life only passes once; grab the brass ring and ... fly!

Good luck, whichever way you choose!




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Answer 5

i went into college and regretted it. if i had done what i wanted (opened an estate agents') my family and i would be now much better off.

a few of my friends did it and despite the fact that they've parted ways, they're now happy and successful. I think it's likely that if I had stayed with them after joining and helping them setup me and mine would be better off now.

what will college give YOU?

do you feel that you have the tools you need to cope in life?

What will happens if ballet fails, say through injury or work that's too irregular?

i think if you can answer those questions positively, with evidence or research of how your suggestions would be possible and a reasonable time frame incorporated for your analysis of whether you are successful or not, then you should be alright to go on with your life in whichever direction that the answer to those questions directs you.

if however you say that you want to go to dance ballet first AND THEN college, then I think that's a bad choice ballet must be a life choice doing it for two years or whatever and then interrupting that career for college is a waste of life and money and other valuable resources like your body, your youth and your brain.

if you were family i wouldn't say any different.

all the best, I hope you choose well and get happy from that choice very quicky :D

Answer 6

If you can afford it, go to an arts college, if not just find a good college that offers a major in dance. Ballet isn't a promised career. If you go to college you can have a backup plan if it doesn't work out. Don't give up on dancing though. And once you get out of college that major in dance will help you out. Find work that involves dance, but if you're down on your luck, at least you went to college and can find other work as well.

Answer 7

Be realistic about your choices. Only two percent of dancer make it inot a professional company. If you think you can beat those odds then begin auditioning and see what happens. Otherwise I would try to go to calloge. Their are many collages with strong dance programs. See if you can go thier adn then you can continue training and still stay in shape.
I would say that education is more important that anything, but their are a select few who have an amazing abitity to succeed in teh ballet world. You might be one of them.
I would consider how long, how intensly, and at what leval you have been danceing, and compare it to those who are now daning for a living.
I would also consiter what you might do if you pick dancing and then retire. Will you want a degree to back you up? Many dancers regret not going to collage since they retire and then can do nothing with your life.
Plan out your future carefully
Good luck!

Answer 8

I would say, go to college first, only because my college experience was the best time of my life and I believe that many others will tell you the same. If you can possibly afford to do it, don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity (live on campus!). And, in a way, you can kind of "combine" both - major in dance and it should be the "best of both worlds".

Answer 9

i think you should go to college first because if you cant become a dance then you can still get a good job.unless you wan to go to college after ballet which it might take even longer to graduate and after you do u might be too old for some jobs.so college first it is better for everything.

or do both at the same time.maybe half day in college and half day at dance.i think this is better personally.it will be hard but it will let you do both at the same time.it might take you longer to graduate though.


so choose what you think is better for u.

Answer 10

Cornish in seattle AMDA in LA are the best COLLEGES in my opinion there are plenty of amazing companies on the west coast as well but you will not be going to college you will be strictly just dancing for the company and thats even if you get in you most audition to be accepted into a performing arts school as well.