A ballet career? [ or going into medicine?!Help please i am so confused as to what route to take etc ]?

Question

I'm so confused!
I have a strong interest in classical ballet. but -
I really want to become an accident & emergency surgeon, that is my main career goal..
I am aware this is probably a strange contrast, two very different interests.
If I can't make it into medical school, I would love to teach ballet as a second option.
I plan to go to sixth form [college] next year to study physics, biology & chemistry .
I'm just stuck because i have been told to be a dance teacher i would need to go to a ballet college. but i am not going to do that..
I'm not sure what to do!
Can i become a ballet teacher if i decide at 18 becoming a surgeon isnt for me?

[ Due tocertain circumstances i have NOT been able to take up ballet seriously until about now. therefore i am only a beginner and i am not sure as to whether i still stand a chance starting so late at age 15.]

-thanks!

Answer 1

Continue going to school for now and concentrate on science. In the mean time, keep taking ballet classes. These two don't contradict one another, since at this point you have to go to school anyway. Graduating from hight school with good grades doesn't hurt in any case. By the time you actually have to decide, you'll have a better judging base for your decision.

I understnd that you're afraid that you'll be "wasting" your time on these two difficult paths, what if neither one works out? If you decide that medicine is not for you and ballet is not working out as a profession either, you could switch to something related but a little different. You can become a biologist (or a biochemist or anything like that) and an amateur ballet dancer. You'd still have to take all the pre-med courses in college anyway be it medical school or bio lab in your future, so you're not stuck being a surgeon.

Education is good, it will give you more not less flexibility in changing careers.

Answer 2

i suggest that you take the A and E surgeon as a first option and use the ballet as a backup plan.this is because a surgeon is a much more doable career. Also you could take up ballet as a hobbie and go to dance schools in all the school holidays.
because you started ballet so late, if you do take this as a career option you will be behind-there are a lot of medical problems that comes with ballet such as your feet curl up and you cant walk and you can get arthritis a lot easier.having children is very unlikely as your fertility may be affected.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't take ballet, i just dont want you to make sure that you know the medical dangers involved.
ideally you should talk to your parents and discuss what i have told you.my cousin chose ballet and now she cant walk or have children. i hope this helps-good luck in your choices!!!

Answer 3

Hi there, I can understand your turmoil!! I think that the most sensible option woud be to keep your ballet as a hobby. I think that 15 is a little late to come into ballet, but even if you had started as a toddler only the absolute exceptional dancers ever reach the stage of ballerina in a dance company. If you do all of your exams in dance then you could go on to be a dance teacher. The best thing you can do is to keep your options open and just wait and see what happens. Things have a way of just happening so don't upset yourself about making a definite decision. Good luck in whichever path you take.

Answer 4

I am a ballerina, too, and i definately reccomend sticking to your medical interests. Ballet is a very unpreditable career, low paying, and generally unrewarding. How many times does a professional dancer end up in the news? never. But a doctor? more often. Also, think of all of the lives you will be saving. If you want to be a ballet teacher, that is something you can always fall back on, but please do yourself a favor and go to medical school.
PS it is harder to become a ballet teacher if you were not a professional, it is usually a job for dancers who have passed their prime

Answer 5

I had the same sort of problem- I was interested in flute performance and veterinary science. I started out pursuing the science end and found that I was depressed and ended up quitting school. I ended up going back to school as a music major and am now a music teacher. Everybody is so caught up in money but chances are that those who are giving suggestions to enter the medical field because you 'help' people do not understand the importance of a passion in a young student. It keeps them off the streets, away from drugs and statistically they perform better in school-how is that not helping people? I will say that it would be best to go to school for ballet to perfect your art. You will only be a good teacher when you have truly mastered your subject.

Answer 6

How long have you been doing ballet? Starting? I would suggest doing medical school. Many ballet teachers need lots of experience and years of retaining information and strength. If you continue, you mmaaayy be able to around late 20's or even 30s. sorry, but i say medicine. you seem to have a passion for both, but you should be practical. And if you don't like surgery, there is always something else. Take ballet while tasting different jobs-- you may find one you can "eat".

Answer 7

I am sure you are too old for ballet at 15 so you might have to become a doctor. I don't really think it is the sort of question to ask on this site because you will get a lot of diverse opinions from unqualified people. You could end up feeling more confused that you already do. Are you able to speak to your parents or tutor about this decision?

Answer 8

You have time in your life to do both!

I would start with ballet because you need to start that during your youthful years.

Medicine is a serious career and this can be taken up later when you are mature and have some experience in life.

No one has one career or job for life anymore. Many people have career changes in midlife. Don't choose, do both.

Answer 9

Ultimatly its your choice but I would go for the medical career it as more options and you could help people. If you get injured your ballet career could be over, I don't think its worth it but like I said its up to you!

Answer 10

Go the medical route: it pays better & you could make a real difference to peoples' lives.