How do you know if you're meant to be a dancer?

Question

I used to be in ballet when I was 9 (I’m 18 now) and I hated it. You know, one of those YMCA things where you were the oldest kid in the class and totally felt out place and that you weren’t moving forward at all. So, I quit and never did dance lessons again because of being self conscious to the more experience dancers. Well, thing is I can’t stop dancing around. I’ll get like this bolt of energy and even if I’m in the middle of the city I’ll start skipping, twirling, walking on tip toes...it’s all rather strange, but I can’t stop it. I have the urge to dance, but the conscience that says that I can’t. What should I do? Am I just kidding myself?

Answer 1

As a dancer, I am confident that anyone can do it. That being said, there are reality issues as well. You don't have much training (really any at all). This means that if you really like to dance (which is totally AWESOME!!) you are going to have to work 6 million times as hard as the others out there to do anything with it. You need to make realistic goals for yourself involving dance. If you possibly want to make a career out of it, you need to get started right away by taking as many dance classes in as many genres as possible. Ballet is the fundamental form of dance and helps ALL other forms come directly from it and are improved by it. Even tribal dances are significantly improved in technique through ballet. If you just love it, or just want to figure out if you love, enroll in some classes. You need gain some confidence as well. Make friends with a few people in each of your classes, talk to the teachers about where you stand and your progress and your desire to feel challenged but not stupid. You need to be in a class with people about your age, but you can't let their ability get you down. And ask some of them for help while you're at it! They would love to help and you would do well to be learning from more than one person! Good luck, and feel free to ask me questions if you need it! The urge to dance is an amazing thing!

Answer 2

I agree with the other answers that if you always feel like dancing, then you should probably take some dance classes. You can be a dancer without making it your life's career, and it's never too late to start dancing.

I did a minimal amount of ballet when I was about 6, but couldn't stay in classes because my family moved often and couldn't afford the tuition. Although I had no real training for most of my life, I loved to dance and would choreograph little shows for my parents. The first real dance class I took wasn't until college. I took a social dance class (swing and tango) and have been going non-stop ever since. Nine years later, I have trophies from amateur ballroom competitions and am a professional bellydancer (as my side career . . . I also have a day career that does not involve dance). I perform every single week, either alone or in a dance company.

If the love of dance is in you (and it sounds like it is) then there's no reason you shouldn't be dancing. You do have to accept that you will have some limitations, though. Professional ballerina is out of the question, but there are many forms of dance and many ways to be involved. I also agree with another answerer who said anyone can dance. I've seen people with no natural sense of rhythm work very hard and become decent dancers. It just takes dedication and love. So find some classes in your area that look interesting and jump in. Check to see if your town or city has community classes for adults. Also, look into dance classes at community colleges. There are often beginner adults in classes in those settings, so you're less likely to feel out of place.

Good luck and happy dancing.

Answer 3

It is unfortunate how many talented people are turned off by bad classes or by classes that don't suite them.

You should try and see if you find adult dance classes that work for you. Meaning - you'd enjoy them and feel that you're making progress. You can always decide to drop it if it's not working out. But if you don't even try - you will never know, and maybe you'll kick yourself when you're 50 for not trying it at the age of 18.

Not everyone who is a good dancer needs to turn dancing in their profession. A lot of people do it for fun.

Answer 4

How do you know if you're meant to be a dancer? If you are doing what you're doing. keep going, get some lessons and you'll be a wonderful dancer!!!
Good Luck!
Quanisha

Answer 5

if you feel like that then it looks like you want to dance. if you have a natural flow for it and it just pores out of you and turns out looking great then your a dancer. I'm like that all the time but I've been doing ballet since i was 2 yrs old and i am 18 now. I'm actually going to uni to study dance.

i feel you should go to a class and see how it feels again. i bet you'd love it!

Answer 6

no,of course not! there are people much older than you who just started dancing
if you really love it and want to go through with it go for it!
maybe you should ask a dance teacher if she has any extra time to help you learn to dance.
if you're really good at it it'll just come naturally and before you know it you'll be lighting up a professional stage.
i know you might be thinking that you shouldn't have quit a while back, it was a stupid idea and you wanna trace back time.
but once you start you'll forget about it. you'll already be up to your standards
hope i helped bye! -jess ♥♥

Answer 7

Hi,
It sounds like you lack some self esteem/confidence. If you enjoy dancing and you feel happy within your heart while your dancing. If you think about dancing all the time and you dance on a whim, then I would say you are meant to dance. Every Celebrity would tell you to follow your dream to the fullest. Never know, you could be the next dance star. Even if you learnt other styles of dancing and implemented your ballet moves with them...you could start a new fad of dance. Search your heart and follow your dreams. Build your confidence and show the world what you can do. Be happy doing what you love to do. Don't miss out on your dream.

Answer 8

it you really love to dance, go for it. you've got to have unbelievable determination and willpower if you want to become a pro, tho.

if not, sure, you can dance, but don't plan on earning $ or anything. there's tons of older-teen dance workshops for beginners out there, so try going to one of those and hopefully you won't be as embarrassed.

Answer 9

even if you didn't like ballet then, you might like it now.
everyone has their different favorite style of dance.
personally my favorite style is hip hop.
i would just test out dance for a couple weeks and see how it goes.
if you want to stay in it though you may need to practice a lot because you missed all those years behind ya.
just something to think about.

Answer 10

i am a dancer myself and my advice is: join a more relaaxing class ! ballet is very much confined to a certain syllabus and a natural dancer lika you shouldnt be tied down to only ONE kind of dance! give a try to stg else and u'll love it!