Career Development Plan - Too Late To Train for Professional?

by annele
(finland)

Career Development Plan - Too Late To Train for Professional?

Hey Odette!

I was just wondering, that am i too old for start training ballet for career? I'm almost 14 and i just started to dance ballet AGAIN (i danced four years when i was little). I readed somewhere that if you want to study for dancer you have to dance on pointe (of course you do). but if you want to dance on pointe, you need to train at least three times a week at least for three years. and you should be latest 15. now i have one year to catch up for those who has been danced for many many yeárs. impossible isnt it?

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Reply by Odette

To:- Career Development Plan - Too Late To Train for Professional?


Remember, just like I did before I went en pointe, ballet students MUST take responsibility for their own strengthening prior to beginning pointe work.
Australian dancer, Lisa Howell has made a video which explains how pre-point strengthening works.
Don't leave it to your teacher!
You can watch this pre-pointe video
yourself here (just wait for the page to load up then the video is on the top right of the page).

Hello Annele,

Thank you for contacting me it is a pleasure to hear from you.

You do need to dance on pointe to become a professional ballet dancer. The amount of time you train on pointe or age you start is very individual to you as a dancer, but it will take time to build strength for pointe work.

In the video above, Australian dancer, Lisa Howell has made a video which explains how pre-point strengthening works. You will find the advice very helpful as it gives superb tips on starting pointe work.

It is true you have to start training at a young age in order to pursue a ballet career, yet there are many different cases with many individuals to when they started to train. It depends hugely on your physical ability, facility and support from your teachers. You need a good trainer to help push you and reach your maximum potential.

Vocational dance schools provide young dancers with elite training and offer the chance to become a professional dancer. These schools are located around the world and offer training for aspiring dancers from the early age of 11 to 18. However, training at a vocational dance school does not mean you are guaranteed to become a professional ballet dancer. Whilst these schools do offer excellent training and advantageous opportunities, it is much up to the individual to whether they can make a career out of their training.

A dancer's aim is to have their first job in a ballet company by the age of 18 or 19 so there is time to develop and rise through the ranks of the company. Therefore, ballet dancing is a career that has to be started at a young age in order to fulfil all the stages of the career.

Whilst it will be hard to catch up, ballet is a technique which can not be rushed. The more secure you are with your early training, the longer and more stable your career will be.

Ballet dancing is an extremely tough career, more so than what meets the eye. It is not impossible to pursue the career, yet it will not happen unless you both want it and make it happen.

If you want to start training for a ballet career, you have to commit a lot of your time and energy. If it proves too much to train for a ballet career, it can be enjoyed just as much as a hobby. I suggest you find some ballet lessons and see where it leads you.

I would advise you to always keep your options and keep an open mind.

Best wishes,

Odette

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