Career Development Plan - Finding a School

by Rosie Burke
(Allentown, PA, USA)

Hi Odette!
My name is Rosie. I'm 15 years old, and I have a predicament. I want to become a ballet dancer more than I can put into words, but I don't feel like I'm getting enough training or challenging enough training at my school. I'm taking five 1 1/5 hour classes at my school, and I'm in the most advanced level. I feel like to get to where I want to be, I should be at a top notch school, like JKO or SAB, but my parents aren't willing to send me away for year-long training, for both financial and personal reasons. What should I do?
Yours,
Rosie

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Reply by Odette

To:- Career Development Plan - Finding a School

Hi Rosie,
Thank you for your message, it is good to hear from you. I can understand your situation and know it must be difficult to know what to do. Yet you not always necessarily need to be at a top school to become a professional. It is about what works best for you, as well as having the attention and focus you need from your ballet teachers to succeed.

There are professional dancers today like Misty Copeland in American Ballet Theatre, and Melissa Hamilton in the Royal Ballet, who trained away from the prestigious ballet schools and still made it extremely successfully.

Your parents are there to support you and especially in ballet, their support is crucial. Keep listening and talking to them, as they are the ones can help you most.

There are great summer courses you can do with the more prestigious institutions which can help you progress and be seen. These intense courses can be very beneficial in your development to become a professional.

For now, don't worry so much about where you should be because each dancer has different circumstances to what is possible. There are many ballet schools all around the world that can produce professionals, but mainly it is up to your ability and support to give yourself an even better chance.

Best wishes,
Odette