Ballet vs. Cheerleading- How do I choose?

Question:I just discovered ballet, and would love to try it ( i posted another question about if there was hope for me in ballet..). But I also want to be involved in school things, so that a scholorship might be an option. So, in spring, I have to choose, b/c doing both would be way too time consuming and wayy to much money. I was a cheerleader in 8th grade and I liked it, of course i tried out to see if more people would like me :) I ended up enjoying Competitions and football games the most when being a cheerleader. It was really fun, but i couldn't do any flips, and that kind of puts you "low" on the cheer scale :) So, i'm under a circumstance where I have to (emphasize "have to") take a backhandspring class (b/c i dropped the class, and we can still use the money for a new session of classes this spring). So, I'll learn how to flip soon, then what? This is where i get lost :) I can't decide. I'm kind of scared for cheer, because I'm nervous, but something keeps telling me to go with ballet

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I just discovered ballet, and would love to try it ( i posted another question about if there was hope for me in ballet..). But I also want to be involved in school things, so that a scholorship might be an option. So, in spring, I have to choose, b/c doing both would be way too time consuming and wayy to much money. I was a cheerleader in 8th grade and I liked it, of course i tried out to see if more people would like me :) I ended up enjoying Competitions and football games the most when being a cheerleader. It was really fun, but i couldn't do any flips, and that kind of puts you "low" on the cheer scale :) So, i'm under a circumstance where I have to (emphasize "have to") take a backhandspring class (b/c i dropped the class, and we can still use the money for a new session of classes this spring). So, I'll learn how to flip soon, then what? This is where i get lost :) I can't decide. I'm kind of scared for cheer, because I'm nervous, but something keeps telling me to go with ballet

Take a sheet of paper and divide it into two columns. One is named ballet and the other is named cheer. Write all the pros and cons. Like ballet could be a lifetime hobby, cheer will only last through college at best. You can do ballet later, you can do cheer only now. Ballet migh take some time away from social life (while you get new friends at the studio you attend) while cheer surves a purpose of adding to your social life. Work on this sheet for several days. maybe it will help you.

Which one do you like more??? You can get a scholarship with either if you are good at it. What can you see yourself doing for a long time. Cheerleading is a lot more social, you will interact with many people at school. If you thrive in an environment where you are very social, then go with cheerleading. Ballet is more solitary and more based on private study. If you thrive in private environments, then choose ballet.

Hey, the most important thing is to evaluate yourself. If you'd rather be peppy and excited then you might want to stick to cheerleading. Flips are the kind of things that take time and practice, but that you can learn quickly if you have tumbling experience. Ballet takes more discipline and maturity to control the movements. Especially since you appear not to have taken much ballet, it could be very difficult to get started. You probably have the flexibility for both. If money is the issue, remember that for ballet you pay for costumes, shoes, classes, accessories, and additional fees depending on the studio. And if scholarships are the issue, you probably won't get one for either becuase not many scholarships are given out for cheerleading and for ballet they are given out for art schools or at competions. I hope i helped (:

You should go with the activity that you enjoy the most, and don't count on earning $$ from either, in the form of scholarships or cash. If you still don't know, then your best bet is to speak with your cheer coach and your ballet instructor and get a serious evaluation of your talent and potential through their eyes. Tell them to be honest with you and that you can handle it.

I was a flautist in high school, and went on to college and took flute there also, but when I asked my instructor about my abilities, he said I doubted I would ever be more than a mediocre flute player, as it took me more effort to do what came easily to others. I went out for the dance team the next year instead, and enjoyed it MUCH more than band.

If you really want to be practical, I would definitely choose cheerleading. Because ballet is soooo difficult to perfect, and takes soooo many hours to get any good at. I'm not saying cheerleading doesn't though!!

Also, in the end, ballet ends up ruining your body. Your feet are basically screwed up for life, and you can end up with many problems later in life.
Whereas with cheerleading you end up being able to do some pretty cool flips etc. if you train hard enough, and you end up with your muscles toned etc.

OMG haha i had EXACTLY the same problem. like i swear.. down to the "can't do any flips.. taking a backhandspring class" thing and wanting to do ballet instead of cheerleading (which i did for a year).
Hmm.. i quit cheerleading and joined a circus class..
my reasoning was that i would probably never be good enough for a scholarship in cheerleading (im flexible and can do a bow and arrow but i'm so not good at tumbling..) i checked out the scholarship requirements at several universities and most of them need WAY more than a backhandspring. so i decided that it wasn't worth it to spend so much time in an activity that wasn't gonna benefit me (i could easily do something else w/ that time).

i wanted to do a ballet class but i couldn't find any classes for people my age, so now im doing a tissu class with my friends . *google tissu if you don't know what it is.. its amazing!*

Good luck! I hope you have fun w/ whatever you choose!

That's a tough choice. However, keep in mind that you can get dance scholarships too. Its sounds like ballet is what you really want to do, and what you are probably better at. Both are very demanding on your body. Cheerleading could have you with slings, neck braces, and crutches, but ballet can have you with knee problems, tendonitis (both because of flawed technique) or broken ankles. Another thing to consider is your body type. Are you, short? tall? curvy? skinny? If you are tall, cheerleading could be very harmful to your back. (ever notice how gymnasts are like 5 ft tops?) But most importantly, decide what you want to do. What will you be most proud of when you are a mom or gma. It helps to write a list of pros and cons for both. Just brainstorm. Hope I could help!

PICK BALLET. It is so awesome. This is getting personal, but I consider cheerleading fake and so normal. In ballet you can discover what you are really good at whether your really flexible, can turn, or jump. In ballet you can immerse yourself in a world of gracefulness, plus nobody ever judges you or puts you on a scale of how good you are.