when is it too late too dance ?

Question

when is it too late to start a career in ballet ? I'd like to know when is it too late to take ballet seriously ?

Answer 1

It's too late to dance when you're in your grave.

As a career, it is important that the child who wants to pursue ballet as a career begin their intensive study early on in their childhood. Training as a professional dancer needs to start by the 11 or 12 for girls and about 14 for boys. An early start helps develop the flexibility and strength in the muscles and bones of the dancer.

Answer 2

Most people will tell you that by age 12 (for women) it is too late to start on a potential career path. Starting at age 8 is more like it. At 12 you will need all the talent in the world, tremendous dedication and a REALLY good group of teachers....to make it professionally. Competition for women is ferocious. Men have things a bit easier - they can start later and since there are so few of them, competition is much less intense.
As far as taking ballet seriously - I don't know what you mean. I began ballet (again) at age 51 and have danced in several amateur productions.... One dance company I danced for had several women from late 20's to early 40's that were quite good and they had started "late" but were serious dancers (from a fitness and recreational standpoint).

Answer 3

Its too late once you are past adolesence to start a "serious" career in ballet. You must be technically trained and polished and talented in order to have a serious career and even that doesn't guarantee a good career. The dance industry is a hard one to be a part of but if you have passion and drive, and do it because you truly love it, then I guess thats ok. But I dont think it is wise to start a career now. Just do it because you want to and enjoy it. You will be left with less disappointments and setbacks if you do so. Even the best of the best can get turned down, and this is after soo much experience and training and skill and talent. Time will be your biggest setback because you will go against people who started since they could walk, meaning they can be skillfully better than you even if your talent is better.

Answer 4

I think the key word in your question is career!

It is never to late to start dancing, well not as long as you are on your feet. But to be serious minded enough to make a career out of it, sadly professional ballet is a child career decision.

Most have developed a professional level stance by the age 14, to do that they have started generally no later than 7, 9 at the latest.

It is just one of those things, it is very competitive, the body changes as it grows and unless it is already instilled before the changes occur the chances of making it professionally become astronomical.

Answer 5

I started ballet at 23. I'm currently 25. I know I probably most definitely won't have a career out of it. However, I started ballet with the attitude of learning and not looking for a career. I love ballet and think it is absolutely beautiful. It has kept me in shape. I've met different people. I really look forward to my classes.

Answer 6

For ballet, I would say your late 20's is the latest you should attempt this kind of dancing. If you haven't already started ballet as a young child and conditioned yourself to it, it will be very hard to start after age 30. If you enjoy ballet dancing that much, just go and watch it. It's a very demanding dance and very hard on your legs and feet.

Answer 7

We've all seen the movies-based-on-true-tories of people thought to be too old to do something doing it and succeeding, so I'd be inclined to say never.

If you're lookign for averages though, most professional ballet dancers begin training as children or pre-teens. But I'm sure there are some who started as late as their late teens early 20's.

Don't do it aiming for a career. do it because you like it. If a career comes, awesome. But why set yourself up for trouble by putting so much on it?

Answer 8

If by "seriously" you mean that you want a career in the ballet as a dancer or lead dancer, then you are too late by about age 9. You might be able to stretch that to 11 if you are incredibly talented and dedicated.

Answer 9

everyone will either say, its never too late or you have already passed the time limit. they seem to be both right. if you want to start then start. it will be tough and you will have to put in time and effort. and if you dont work at it, and i dont mean a few minutes or classes here and there, i mean any time you get, then you just arent into it as much as you think you are. you need to stretch and get tough, because if you want to do something like point, then youre gonna need it. ballet isnt all pretty little tutus and gracefullness. its pain and struggle. and just think, if you dont want to do it or you dont succeed, theres always other types of dance. try lyrical. i think thats something that would be more easier and less painful. its a type of ballet.

Answer 10

I am a dancer and definitely by the age of 9 you should start latest 11. To be a ballet dancer is like the luck of a draw either you become amazing or you're really bad there's no in-between. For someone to be a ballet dancer they have to be amazing.