Ballet at 15?

Question:Heya guys! I'm 15 currently and although I love watching dances and dancing as much as everyone else, I am really, really inflexible. I guess my flexibility's below average, cuz I can't hold stretches for long. I'm considering taking up ballet classes cuz it's a beautiful form of art and I'm prepared to devote my time to it. Of course, I will need much more flexibility than what I have now.

Any tips for improving flexibility at home? Oh and if you could tell me about how ballet classes work... that would be good too. 15 seems a little late to start taking dance classes... but I'll work hard at it. Thanks!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Heya guys! I'm 15 currently and although I love watching dances and dancing as much as everyone else, I am really, really inflexible. I guess my flexibility's below average, cuz I can't hold stretches for long. I'm considering taking up ballet classes cuz it's a beautiful form of art and I'm prepared to devote my time to it. Of course, I will need much more flexibility than what I have now.

Any tips for improving flexibility at home? Oh and if you could tell me about how ballet classes work... that would be good too. 15 seems a little late to start taking dance classes... but I'll work hard at it. Thanks!

first off, good for you for deciding to start something new....ballet is the best!I'm 14 and have just started ballet about 6 months ago and i luv it! I get up early in the morning, turn on some music and stretch for about 30 min and at night i dim the lights listen to relaxation music and stretch for about another 30 min before going to bed. this nightly ritual, i find, helps me sleep much better too!

it doesn't matter if your inflexible, the sooner you start the better; preferably in a basic beginner class for older people like you and me. talk to your teacher about how you can improve and what sort of stuff you can do at home and she'll happily give you advice. you seem like the ultimate student: prepared to work hard and devoted to learning. in our ballet class, we first do some random stretching then barre exercises then some ballet in the centre (usually you'll practice the centre stuff on the barre first for support). then right at the end we do a little cursty to our teacher which apparently is the ballet way of saying 'thank you'. if the teacher likes you, she'll be more wiling to work hard on you so be a good student. Most dance studios have a open stretch class that any one can do so this will be great for your flexibility. Once you know the basics, do as many classes as you can.
Good luck, I'm sure you'll be great! Feel free to email me!

well i think that wen youre at home in youre spare time you can do stretching exercise things for a certain time and then the next day try and go a little farther in the stertch and for a little longer and thats how you get more flexable

try some simple stretching exercises at home. in ballet they put 1 leg up on the bar (which is at waist height) and stretch forwards. try this but remember not to stretch too much and pull a muscle.

what i can say is that if u r not very flexible then you are never gonna be like a proper ballet dancer (by this i mean the opposite, being extremely flexible).

ballet is about knowing ur limits and working to that ability. don't let anyone push u further than u can go and remember just to have fun with it. yes ballet is hard but worth it in the end.

classes usually have a little warm up firsth, then some bar work and some centre work (bar work tends to be more exercise stuff like plieyes. soz can't spell that. centre work is more of the dancing side). if u r doing grades then u will also have character work too. u wear a black skirt with ribbon on and some black shoes (similar to tap ones). it's different. struggling to describe this one.

don't forget point work. this wont be done til u r used to the ballet etc (doubt that she'll start straight away, needa get used to feet work and stuff). this is the best part. when u get ur first pair of point shoes it's like wow, kinda like becoming a woman lol, what everyone wants to be able to do.

Talk to ur ballet teacher about stretching and things u can do to help, sure she can give you a few pointers to help along he way. hope this has been some help to you and good luck. you'll love it

as an add on you could try some of the joint and muscle supplements to help limber you up.

STRETCH! That's awesome that you're doing ballet. I do ballet too. Stretching is totally a necessity if you want to succeed in ballet. Fifteen is a little late, but you sound very determined, so you'll do just fine! I know people who just started ballet a few months ago and they're fourteen. Anyway, I wish you the best of luck!

I just suggest stretching at home and working towards the splits- u use it alot in ballet. Another necessary thing to do is check out the local studios. See if there is even a company near-by. Take a look and ask to observe a class. See how good the girls are, the discipline they have, technique, etc. and also see how young the girls are on pointe. You don't want to go somewhere that puts just about anybody on pointe and too early.

Have Fun!
MG