ballet question?

Question

ok i really like ballet and i take 3 hours a week (which isn't a lot i know) and have demi pointe shoes right now. and i started thinking i might want to do ballet as my profession but i still want to go to college to be a vet just in case i get hurt and can't dance anymore. is that possible, to go to a dance school and go to college at the same time. because it would be cool to join the new york city ballet. all the dancers there probably have been dancing forever and probably went to a preformance arts school for high school and college but i can't do that ( well for high school any way) so does any body have an advice. thanks in advance

Answer 1

I'm going to respond to your question by breaking it into parts.

1) It's possible to go to college and dance school at the same time, but only one endeavor can be done at a serious level. You can be a full-time, non-science, liberal arts major, but any dancing you do will be more at a recreational level to keep up your past skills. If you really knock yourself out, you might be able to manage a science major, but your lab classes will allow even less time for dance classes. Conversely, you can study dance full time at a dance school, but your academic classes won't be more than general liberal arts classes OR it will take you a very long time to complete your degree.

The schedule for a dance major at a true, performance-based, college dance program (of the kind that can lead to a performing career) is so intense - morning to night - that it's barely possible to minor in another subject, much less major in one. The only way to fit in requirements for the academic major would be to either stretch out the dance program for 6 years or more or cram the maximum number of academic classes over the summer. Either way, your dance training will suffer because it will no longer be at the intense level needed to launch a professional performing career.

2) Members of the New York City Ballet do not get there by going to college first. At most, you might find a couple guys who dropped out of Juilliard to accept a position in the company. But of the Americans you'll find in the company, I doubt you'll even find any who attended a performing arts high school. They either attended SAB, which doesn't offer an academic program, or they attended the most elite, company-affiliated dance schools where they were training about 20 hours a week at your age.

3) There are only a handful of college dance programs with a rigorous enough ballet program to prepare you to dance ballet professionally at even the smallest ballet companies. Those programs are so hard to get admitted to that, unless you're taking dance classes at least 12 - 15 hours a week during your high school years (NOT counting rehearsals), along with attending a top summer dance intensive, you probably won't get accepted to them.

Here are some articles for you to read about college and ballet:

"Practice, Practice, Practice. Go to College? Maybe." New York Times, 12/21/2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/21/arts/dance/21danc.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

"College Classes for A.B.T. Dancers Reveal World Beyond Ballet" New York Times, 5/18/2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/18/arts/dance/18coll.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Organizations/L/Long%20Island%20University

"Pairing Ballet With a Bachelor's Degree" New York Times, 11/4/07
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/arts/04kour.html

Answer 2

It's possible but very difficult. You could find a college where you can double major in dance and something else (which is what a friend of mines is doing) but what most dancers choose to do is to focus on dancing now because you know dancers only last until their about 30 at the oldest, especially ballet dancers (though there are the exceptions) and then when your dance career is over you can go back to school to get your degree in whatever it is you want.

Answer 3

Most dancers audition and dance pro first, then pursue a degree afterward, only because the career of a pro dancer is usually relatively short compared to another career. But you can most definately go to vet school first and have a dance minor. Just realize that vet school is an actual medical degree so decide what kind fo time frame youre working with

Answer 4

I think you should take more classes a week because sorry to say, but 3 hours a week (if you're old enough to have demi pointe) probably won't prepare you for a grueling ballet profession. I think if you were determined, you would be able to become a vet and a professional. Just keep trying and do not get discouraged. I know you can do it, I wish my very best to you!!

Answer 5

It's always a good idea to focus on your education and to have a back-up plan. The answer is that yes, you can go to college while you're in dance school, but it would be extremely stressful for you. You could take night or weekend classes to keep your days free for ballet lessons or auditions, but dance alone will keep you plenty busy and tired. I would advise you to ask your ballet teacher's opinion. She would know the inside story. Good luck! :)

Answer 6

it's possible, but i image it would be hard to go to vet school and dance full time at the same time,

BUT,

you could always take tons of classes now, and dedicate your life for ballet for now and then when college comes, go to vet school, that way you r doing both

oh, i dont know if u r going into college or are in high school, so i dont know, but it could work

Answer 7

rj, Mikael Baryshnikov!!!

Answer 8

no,
if you truly want to do ballet

you have to sacrifice everything
for it.