Career Development Plan - Still Become Professional Dancer at Aged 14?

by Ellis
(Indonesia)

Hi odette, is it too late to be a professional ballet dancer at the age of 14? im 14 and going to turn 15 this year. I've been aspiring to be a ballet dancer for about a year. My family doesnt exactly have extra money lying around but im truly passionate about it. And i couldnt confront my parents about this because if this werent a serious hobby, i would be wasting our limited money. i wouldnt exactly say that i was poor, but i have three siblings so i couldnt be selfish. I had been doing a little routine by myself though, i started stretching for about five days a week and after one and a half month, im quite close to doing a split!:D So ive been researching a little about ballet and it seems to almost everyone else that 14 is too old to become a professional ballet dancer. I dont exactly know why though. Im really quite disappointed cause i really wanted to make a career out of it. I shared this to my family recently, my siblings told me to go for it but my parents werent exactly supportive. I really want to do it as a living, unfortunately, my parents and late age werent the only problems. There arent much ballet academies in my city, i only found two. Both of which had contradicting disadvantages and advantages. So im quite lost at what to do, im not very good at persuading and im 'too late to join ballet' and there arent much ballet academies. Although being too late doesnt exactly hinder me from reaching my dream because i do believe miracles happen :D, i just needed someone to reassure me that i am capable of reaching it and to tell me what i can do to catch up. Thanks :D

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Reply by Odette
To:- Career Development Plan - Still Become Professional Dancer at Aged 14?

Hello Ellis,
Thank you so much for your message, it is super to hear from you. I understand your situation and will do all I can to help. Whatever happens, you always have to keep believing in yourself and follow what you want. We can achieve things in life that we never knew was possible.

When I was younger, I never expected I would actually go to a top vocational dance school and progress to become a professional dancer. Of course, it was my dream to be a ballet dancer, but I couldn't imagine myself actually getting there. It seemed liked forever until I would reach my goal.

Sometimes things happen in life that you don't expect, or you don't know how you would possibly achieve. Which is why, throughout each day, you have to make the most of each opportunity and really grasp the moment.

You are not to late to join ballet. There are professional dancers who have not started training intensely until they were 16. Yet they found good training and practiced everyday with their school to perfect the technique and build the strength for a professional.

So, if you really want to become a professional you will have to start regular ballet classes. If you want to reach your dream, of course miracles can happen, but they will not happen unless you put a lot of hard work and dedication into it. Ballet is not an easy profession to succeed in and I am telling you these inner details now, so you are aware of what it takes to become a ballet dancer.

Take it step by step and first find yourself ballet classes with good teachers. This is a start. Then, you can re think to whether you feel it is still possible, or if you have the potential to train at a vocational dance school when you are 16.

It would be hard to do this without the support of your parents. My family did not have a lot of money either but luckily there were sponsors and scholarships that made my dream possible. So there is hope for you too.

Remember to always keep your dreams alive, but also do your best to make them happen too, if that is what you truly want.

Best wishes,
Odette

ps. To become the best dancer you can be, learn the Seven Secrets ..... go to my 'Seven Secrets of Ballet' page