Ballet ......?

Question:Hi =)
Im 14 years old, 173 cm tall and Im not really what you call "skinny" but Im not obese either...anyway I really would love to start Ballet but Im I too old and have the wrong body shape? Im willing to work hard and practise cause ballet is really hard work. Do you think I can start? Would private lessons be better..would my body adjust over time and get stronger and fitter?

For the time being, as I propably would not be able to start until next year..are there any stretches I can do or things like that to prepare me and get myself a little bit more flexible?

Thanks..I know I have quite a few questions but I would appriciate all the bits of info you have on any one of them.
Thanks again...x

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Hi =)
Im 14 years old, 173 cm tall and Im not really what you call "skinny" but Im not obese either...anyway I really would love to start Ballet but Im I too old and have the wrong body shape? Im willing to work hard and practise cause ballet is really hard work. Do you think I can start? Would private lessons be better..would my body adjust over time and get stronger and fitter?

For the time being, as I propably would not be able to start until next year..are there any stretches I can do or things like that to prepare me and get myself a little bit more flexible?

Thanks..I know I have quite a few questions but I would appriciate all the bits of info you have on any one of them.
Thanks again...x

Hey. I'm 13. I've been dancing since I was 3. I think I can help. There's not one person in the whole world who can't become more flexible. First of all, you are not fat. Everyone sees themselves in a different point of view then everyone else does. The way I look at myself when I look down at my stomach, I see chubbyness, my friends envey me because I have such a skinny stomach and eat so much. If that's not the case, it's probably that you have baby fat. Ballet is really hard work. All the hard work pays off when you are so strong and you see those beautiful pointe shoes in your dance bag. Private lessons cost more. I suggest taking regular classes. It dosn't matter if people can see your stomach. You will work that stomach off just by doing one or two splits a day. To get more flexible, here's what you do:
* Lay on the floor. Lift your right leg 10 times. As high as you can, and as far back as it can go. Hold your ankle there and keep your leg straight or you won't get flexible. Do the same with your left leg.
* Do a bunch of splits.

Here's what you wear to ballet class:
* Leotard
* Tights
* Ballet slippers

Strenghten your feet, body, and legs- Sit on a chair and put marbles on the right side of you on the floor. Pick up the marbles with your toes. Do this until all of the marbles are on the left side. Then bring them back to the right side. Keep your back straight and your toes pointed.

hey! you should never feel that you can't do something! i'm a little overweight but I'm a cheerleader, and I'm the best one on my cheer squad! Do you know why i'm the best, bacause I set my mind to it and I gave 2000% effort! So if I can be a cheerleader, you can be in ballet!

most people strt dancing at a younger age but i myself did ballet. I was decint intill the splits. You body depending on your hips and thighs will determine how things work out. Never take private lessons. They cost more and just aren't work it. I suggest if you really want to partak in this activity before you go for lessons. Take a month to strtch out your muscels. It will not be comfortable. I would do this about onc a day 15 min or more. You should do pleause a bend in the knees. Lifting your legg up right to hip higt. try butterflies and maybe even some push ups. Put mainly stick to building up calf muscel strenght i hope things work out.!

Hey.
Well mostly, you're never too old to start ballet and you NEVER have the "wrong body shape," if your willing to work hard and practice! Obviously you can start, and private lessons are okay, it's best to try an open class and learn from your mistakes!!

It doesnt matter when you start or any of that. Its the dedication that makes a true dancer. If you wanted to do private lessons to catch up it wouldnt be a bad idea but I don't think it is completely necessary, it would be up to you. As for stretching just do simple stradles and splits but make sure your muscles are warm before you attempt to stretch!

Hi:)
I'm very glad to hear that you want to start ballet! of course it's ot too late! I started this August, and I'm 14 too! And I'm actually sitting here with my first pair of pointe shoes!
But when you are "this old" you have to make sure that you don't end up stuck with kids at 10 years old. try to see if any of your local dance studioes has a teenager class!

Good luck!

P.s Balet has nothing to do with age or weight! So go for it girl!

oh course you can take up ballet! Try seeing if a local studio has adult ballet classes. These will be at a beginning level and better than being in a class with 8 year olds. If you can't start till next year because you are worried about jumping into a class in the middle of the year just call a studio and ask if you can start now. I have several girls in my studio who are 4 or 5 years older than me but have only been doing ballet for about 4 or 5 years. They are actually in my classes are are good dancers. You might not get to dance en pointe for 4 or 5 years because your technique will not be quite good enough and you will not be strong enough but you can eventually get there if you try really hard!

if you want to do it for fun body shape etc doesn't matter! but im sorry its too late to be professional

I know your problem!! I wanted to start ballet soo bad! I started it like a week after I turned 13. Now im almost 14, and I love ballet! My teacher says I have a lot of potential to maybe become professional someday! So go for your dreams! if ballet is something you really wanna do, I say go for it!

dont think that about urself! ok well im in a professional ballet company in milwaukee wisonisn and well i have to say that well there is a bunch of not skinny not obiese people which is called medium! trust me im not lying! they made it into a lot of shows! there not realy that good either! dont think that about ur self ok then u are gonna feel really uncomfortable and unwanted just go up there and show them wat u got! HINT: might want to put ur shoulders back and head up!

Teachers usually like their students to start at a very early age....but your never to old to give anything a try....you can start exercising on a barre maybe put in your basement or garage, it just has to be a bar of some kind....maybe your dad could put one up for you !! And then go on the google and type in this, starting ballet on your own, and see what comes up....I know that they have a site for just about everything, so give it a try...good luck....if you really want it go for it !!!!!!!

Of course you can start. I'm 14 myself and have just restarted taking lessons at a ballet academy. I don't have the "perfect bod" for ballet either, so you're not alone. To me it doesn't matter, because I love ballet, it's what I do. So don't let your body bother you.

Private lessons would be great, but only if you think you really need help on catching up with your techniques. In my classes, we do ab exercises to help gain strength to help hold up your leg while battements, etc. longer. We do crunches [front & sides], V's, etc.

To get yourself more flexible, I'd prefer holding your leg and extending them to the front, side, and back. Also, work on side splits and your straddle. If you can already do them, try doing a over split, which are side splits but over 180 degrees. Oh, and work on your turn out by doing the butterfly whenever you have spare time.

I hope this helped. Great to hear you want to start ballet, it's hard work, but its worth it [;