Dance vs. Gymnastics.?

Question:Okay, I've been doing dance for about five years and I absolutley adore it. It's so much fun. I as much as I love it, I think I might be ready for a change, just to mix it up it a little bit. I was thinking about doing gymnastics. My mother will only let me choose one because of of the big time and money commitment.
Okay, so I have some questions for the dancers and gymnasts out there. (:

I can barely do anything in Gymnastics. Seriously.
If I went to a good gym, how long could it take me to really get "good?" And at least master the basics?
Since I am just starting, would I have to start with like five year olds?
I know this isn't really a fair question, but this is only if you are both a gymnast AND dancer: which is harder/easier?
And of course last but not least,
What should I choose?!? =]
Thanks a bunch . ??

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Okay, I've been doing dance for about five years and I absolutley adore it. It's so much fun. I as much as I love it, I think I might be ready for a change, just to mix it up it a little bit. I was thinking about doing gymnastics. My mother will only let me choose one because of of the big time and money commitment.
Okay, so I have some questions for the dancers and gymnasts out there. (:

I can barely do anything in Gymnastics. Seriously.
If I went to a good gym, how long could it take me to really get "good?" And at least master the basics?
Since I am just starting, would I have to start with like five year olds?
I know this isn't really a fair question, but this is only if you are both a gymnast AND dancer: which is harder/easier?
And of course last but not least,
What should I choose?!? =]
Thanks a bunch . ??

Oh my goodness I can't believe there's someone in the same situation as I was in! I'm not alone! :D

I would say the time taken would depend on highly on
1. the amount of effort you put in,
2. your natural abilities (and the genre of dance that you did, I believe ballet would've helped),
3. your definition of "good" and "basics".

Gymnastics requires lots of muscles so if you want to be "good", I'd suggest you start self-training. Simple exercises like push-ups, crunches, wall sits, back raises, etc. If you want a complete list of exercises that could help you, you could message me for more details(:

When I first started gym, I was placed in a class with 5-6 year olds. Trust me, it was pretty embarrassing for me. But thank goodness, my coach saw some "potential" in me (or so he said) and pulled me over to the intermediate class. It was rather flattering for me (since I was a total beginner) yet also very stressful. The girls in my class could already execute their flips AND turns AND everything else! Thank goodness for my coach (and my self-training at home), I must say I did manage to improve rather quickly and was soon able to prove myself worthy to be part of the intermediate class(:

How long would it take you take get "good"? It really depends! If your "good" consists of front walkovers, back walkovers, cartwheels and round-offs. I'd say that 2-3 months should be enough, IF you've already got the strength in your arms and back, and flexibility in your back (e.g. able to do a bridge with arms and feet touching with not much difficulty). Otherwise, you'd have to work on your flexibility on top of developing your muscles, which would equate to more time taken. Once again if you need exercises to improve your flexibility, you could ask me(:
If your "good" consists of backflips, somersaults, flick-flacks, etc, it would definitely take a longer time because most coaches don't like going too fast (my coach for example, made me work on my back walkovers for 3 whole months before moving on to back flips even though I already got my back walkovers!). Also, on top of your coach's preference, I'd say that backflips, somersaults, etc. are generally much harder to execute and require loads of courage and skill. You'll have to keep practising them (one skill at a time) or you'll lose the "feel" of it! You wouldn't want that to happen.

Your question really isn't a fair one cos I really can't say which is hardier/easier! Thus, I'm not going to compare them but just give you the low-down on both. It's YOUR choice that matters ultimately!
Dance is based on:
musicality, strength, technique, grace, performance, expression
Gymnastics is based on:
strength, endurance, agility, courage, speed

Which do you like better?

And by the way, I've chosen to dance(:

I had the SAME concerns, lol! No, you would not start with 5 year olds. You get put into your age groups (depending on the gym rules). To get good, it would take a couple months for you to achieve your first flip (approximately) but if you have dance training, then maybe a bit quicker. It all depends on your skill and effort. By the way, I was thinking about taking a brake for gymnastics and going to dance. Does anybody know what I should take if I want to become an actress?

Does any gym near you offer rhythmic gymnastics? I did rhythmic for years bnefore starting to dance and its a wonderful way to combine the elements of both dance and artistic gymnastics. You won't need to do flight elements, but you can incorporate elements like walkovers, etc, and your dance background will help IMMENSELY!

I think you should chose what YOU feel. but IF i were you i would pick gymnastics! But do what you like best (its all in your mind.) And if your not good at gymnastics try and you might be good!

I was a dancer before I was a gymnast, and I moved up extremely quickly. I was competing with only a year of prior practice, and as any gymnast will tell you, that's pretty good.

Dance helps a TON with the flexibility and grace aspects of gymnastics, and it could also possibly help with the strength parts as well. You'll be doing pirouettes and leaps, etc.
Most gyms have classes for older beginners like yourself, so I wouldn't worry about that too much.

Personally, I think gymnastics is much harder, and better for you overall. You'll be stronger, more flexible, and coordinated. I was more flexible after a month in gymnastics than some of my dancer friends have been their whole lives. And its way cooler to do flips anyway. :]

Good luck!

i started gymnastics after 9 years of dance and i noticed it put me ahead of the other kids because i was more active and flexible. depending on the gymnastics place you go to..i could do a back hand spring in 4 months (but i worked hard) it shouldn't take you too long.. it depends on every person. they have classes designed for older kids that are just beginning so you wouldn't be with 5 y.olds. i recommend Acro..it's a cross between dance and gynmastics! they should offer it at your dance studio or gymnastics place. if thats not possible.. i think you should choose gymnastics, make a change if you think you're ready for it. i took dance for 11 years and i suddenly quit for horse backriding!! and i had a very strong passion for dance. i simply felt i needed a change. good luck with whichever one you choose! :)

i would go for dance
theirs a lot of different types and you can get far in it.
but i can only say that because ive been dancing for 7 years.

I am a dancer as well as a gymnast. The only thing that I can tell you is that gymnastics is something that takes alot of upper body strength and most dancers are not extremely strong in their upper body. While I must say I believe that gymnastics is much more fun, it is also much more challenging in my oppinion. If you still have a few years, I would do gymnastics because you can always go back to dance later on.
I have gone to several different gyms, and I don't know of one that would put you in a class with kids way younger than you. If you are still uncomfortable you should ask about private lessons because they will help you learn alot faster because you have more one on one time with the instructor.