I want to do Ballet again, I'm 15, is it too late for a serious career?

Question

i already play the violin so i like classical music and i am flexible, a quick learner and i LOVE to dance. I used to do ballet when i was little but quit. I would like a serious career as a ballet dancer is it too late?

Answer 1

Starting so late, it's unlikely that you will become a professional ballerina. A lot of girls who train all their lives do not even get to be professional ballerinas, because the competition is so stiff. It's as hard to be a professional dancer as it is to be a professional athlete.

That said, there are still many reasons why you should take ballet. It would improve your flexibility, teach you to be more graceful, and give you some exercise. Dance also provides you with a great way to express yourself. Even if you don't become a professional ballerina, you won't regret taking ballet. If nothing else, you'll learn a few moves to show off to your friends.

Answer 2

The sticking point here is the "again" part of your question. I assume that means that you're not just starting out, that you've taken at least 3 or 4 years before and are looking to get back into it. If you took less than 3 or 4 years, you're looking at some seriously tough work to try to catch up. On the other hand, if you've taken 3 or 4 years previously, it's not an impossible task with a couple of BIIIIIIG IFs:

IF you're dedicated enough and IF you're talented enough.

I took several years when I was under 10, stopped for a while and went back again when I was your age to decide if this was what I wanted to do as a career (and if, at that age, it was possible for me to have any kind of career). Because I had several years at a young age, I flew through the beginning grades and was en pointe within a year of starting classes again. I took 7 -9 classes a week to catch up with the students who had been taking without pause since they were 4 (I started at 4, took until I was 10, and then stopped and did gymnastics and other dance styles).

I chose a ballet studio that had a performing company attached to it and asked the ballet mistress to be frank with me - she said that I had what it took to perform with the company but that I probably didn't have what it took to perform with a big company unless I danced principal rather than starring roles. It was expensive because it was a very good studio and it was a tough schedule because I was downtown every single day of the week dancing.

I did end up performing with the company and I loved what I did, but I realized that I didn't have the single minded dedication that it would take to make ballet my career - I liked doing other things, too, and I liked having time for things like college and some hobbies. I had no problem dropping everything to concentrate on ballet and take 7-9 classes a week along with 2 or 3 company rehearsals per week for about 4 years, but after that I was ready to make room in my life for other things.

One of the factors that helped me in my decision was I realized that a career in ballet as a performer is usually over by the time a dancer reaches 35 or 40 (although she can still perform some roles in some ballets and she can teach and choreograph). Also realize that ballet is tough on the body. It's based on making your body do things it's not built to do. You can do that for a while, but you can't do it indefinitely and you run the risk of injury. Ballet dancers suffer almost as many injuries as football players because this art form is so highly demanding of those who engage in it. It will demand your soul from you, but it will gift you with beauty beyond compare.

You'll need to have a podiatrist keep close track of you and you'll need to come to terms with the fact that unless you're one of those incredibly talented dancers, you'll most likely have to hold down some kind of second job to make a decent living.

30 or 40 seems like a lifetime away from 15 - I know it did for me when I was your age, but think about it this way; if dance is your career you'll most likely need to train and find a second career in another 15 years or so.

If you really want to do this, you can. Make sure you choose a good teacher/school and make sure the teacher is frank and honest with you about your aptitude so you aren't disappointed or let down with your limitations.

And if you change your mind down the road, you will at least have pushed yourself to reach for something you really wanted.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Sweetie it is never too late to follow your dream. If you love to dance and you miss it, then you know it's your true passion. Because you are already 15 it doesn't mean that it's too late, it just means that you have to work that much harder to make up for the lost practice. But if you want it bad enough, then that should be no problem. There are people well into their 30's that are just going after a career, you still have your whole adult life ahead of you, so don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do something. Dance on!!

Answer 4

it may be a little too late, but you should ask the ballet instructor. most professional ballet dancers they start out when they were little, and the experience builts up, you have to catch up on the experience that you've missed over the years. It's like music, if you quit piano at an early age, then you want to pick it up again, it's not easy.

Answer 5

for a serious career it is propably too late because it takes many years to really learn the technique even if you are flexible and have done it before

Answer 6

definatley NOT too late. if you dedicate yourself enough you could have a serious ballet career within a few years! i say go for it =)

Answer 7

depend s how far you are in grades. usually u need quite a lot of qualifications 2 be excepted into a proper dance schl but i guess if you were very talented you would be fine

Answer 8

You are probably too old....sorry. You MIGHT have a long shot chance if you are 5'6" tall 105 lbs (perfect physique) and INCREDIBLY talented. Good Luck you will need it - also, be sure to find a really good dance school.

Answer 9

if u work hard and want to sure. it's not too late

Answer 10

Heck no! Go for it!