Career Development Plan - Becoming a Professional Ballerina

by Ballet is my Life X

Career Development Plan - Becoming a Professional Ballerina

I am 13 years old, I have only been doing ballet for 4 or 5 years but I absolutely love it. I started pointe work this week and have fallen in love with that too. I have no idea what I would do if I couldn't be a ballerina, I would literally never get over it. I live and breathe ballet, it is always on my mind.

I practice and do stretches every other day. I am so committed and just love it so much! I am doing my grade 5 cecchetti in a few weeks. I've done cechetti associates and I am doing cechetti scholars currently and my teacher things I show promise and am progressing a lot.

I'm not allowed to go to a vocational school until I am 16 and I was wondering if you have any tips on what I can do to ensure I am not at a disadvantaage if I do go to vocational school? What things would help improve me as a dancer further? Please help, I want this more than anything! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ps. i am so jealous of you, you get to be a ballerina for your job hahaa (but not mean jealous!! :) )

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Reply by Odette

To:- Career Development Plan - Becoming a Professional Ballerina


Hello,

Thank you for contacting me, it is inspiring to hear your enthusiasm and passion to dance.

Firstly, work ethic and determination will take you a long way in becoming a professional ballerina. Never loose that great passion you have, as this is very special. Along with the physical ability, it's absolutely crucial to be mentally prepared for a professional ballet career. It highly depends on your self-motivation to how you succeed in becoming a professional ballet dancer. The Seven Secrets, on the 'Seven Secrets of Ballet' page, will give you the key answers of how to thrive in the ballet world.

I would also suggest to focus on making sure you secure the basics such as the correct alignment, placement and posture. These are the fundamental elements to a dancer's training and bad habits, such as incorrect posture, are hard to get rid off so really try to develop the proper technique.

A good technique is crucial for when you enter a vocational school later at 16, as by this age you want to be focusing more on strength and control, not back to the basics. Take a look at the ballet dance lesson page for more detail on these technical skills.

My top tip to help improve your dance further would be to just make sure you work 110% in every ballet class. This includes your muscles and your brain! Be an intelligent dancer and write down your corrections, become quick at picking up exercises and have a clear goal with what you want to achieve in each lesson.

You sound like a promising young dancer. Trust me, I know exactly how you feel with all those yearning and devout thoughts. But, don't worry, keep working hard and one day you can live your dream. Take each day as it comes and let that enthusiasm of yours drive you to succeed.

All the best,

Odette