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Question: Should i take up ballet!?
i am 13 and i want to start ballet but i have a few questions
how long will it take to get to pointe
when will i start doing like the splits in the air when they run and jump
how flexible should i be (will it help if i can do the splits)
am i to old to do something with this future ballet training later in my life
will i start in a clas with younger kids
will it hurt my feet


also what are other thing i need to know


how can i tell if i have strong ankles or how can i make them stronger i would love to go en pointe and i am a hardworker and would be completley dedicated!. i used to do irish and i wasnt bad but i quit because i wasnt having fun!. i never threw out my trophies though :)

so do you think ballet is the right dance for me!Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Hi Rose,

How long will it take to get to pointe!?

Your teacher will look for the following things before letting you go en pointe!. First, they will want to see that you can go on 3/4 pointe in regular ballet shoes or barefoot!. 3/4 pointe is involves going up not completely on the toes or rolling over, but right in the middle of the pad of your toes!. This requires strength and you may not be able to get it and hold it immediately, but as your feet strengthen, it will get easier!.

Next, your teacher will want to see impeccable technique en flat!. You can't be expected to safely and effectively perform steps en pointe if you can't safely and effectively perform them en flat!. You will need at least a triple pirouette in impeccable form, excellent barrework, and good stamina!.

Your teacher will also want to know that you've been dancing ballet for at least 4 years, give or take depending on the level of professionalism of your school!. Obviously, there are exceptions, but most of the time the school is pretty strict about their minimum experience requirements and abides by them!.

When will i start doing like the splits in the air when they run and jump!?

What you're referring to is a term called grande jeté!. This is an advanced step and you'll have to wait about a year or two before doing these!. also, it won't come immediately; you need to work at it!. It's very difficult!.

How flexible should i be (will it help if i can do the splits)!?

You need to be extremely flexible to be a dancer, especially a ballerina!. You need to be able to do the splits, have a perfect "butterfly" stretch, hamstring stretch, and straddle, and also a rollthrough!. For more details please contact me!.

Am i to old to do something with this future ballet training later in my life!?

No, absolutely positively not!. I am in a professional company now and I know people in the company who started at your age!. They had to work very hard to get into the professional company, but they did it, and you can definately do it!.

Will I start in a class with younger kids!?

Perhaps!. Don't let this stop you!. You're older, and you can pick up steps and other things easily!. I think you'll either start in a class with kids a little younger, like fourth and fifth grade, or get into an adult beginner class!. I would opt for the first option if I had a choice, because the teachers know how to teach a younger body!. It really helps!.

Will it hurt my feet!?

Your feet might be sore the first week or so!. However, you'll toughen up and get calluses!. (Don't shave those off! If you do, your feet will hurt forever and all eternity!. Ballet and pretty feet don't go together!. That means cross that pedicure off your list!.) Pointe will really start to hurt your feet: blisters, bleeding, calluses, and pain! But there are toepads, tape, bandaids, etc!. to help you with that!. Dancers can always handle pain, so you need to get used to that quickly!.

That's about it for what you need to know!.

To get onto pointe, you need to have very strong muscles in your feet that are very difficult to strengthen!. It's very helpful to get an exercise band (or Theraband?) for strengthening ankles and deep arch muscles!. Try these websites for exercise bands:

http://www!.discountdance!.com/frame_set!.p!.!.!.
http://www!.thera-band!.com/store/index!.ph!.!.!.

Some exercises I recommend are the following!. First, you want to strengthen your calves and ankles, which can be done by doing multiple relevés or "killers"!. For your first time I recommend 64, and progressively increase in number each time you do them (usually I increase by increments of 8)!. I recommend using music for that, so if you have a ballet CD, or even just some of your favorite songs, play that while you're doing your killers!. This exercise should burn in your inner thighs and calves!. It strengthens the inner thighs, calves, ankles, and tarsels!.

Next, you want to take your towel or resistance band and put it flat onto the ground longways!. Sit down in front of it and put your foot on top near the edge!. Now, scrunch your toes in and out, in and out so that the towel or band moves toward you!. Once you get to the end, turn it around and do it again!. I would recommend this rotation twice on your first time, progressively increasing each time you do the exercise!. You should feel it in your entire ankle, inner arches, and upper arches!. This strengthens the deep supporting arches, tarsals, metatarsals, Achilles tendon, and deep core muscles in your feet, which allow you to safely and securely go en pointe!.

Good luck and hope I helped!. Remember, you can always feel free to contact me with further questions!. Keep dancing!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think Ballet is good for anybody that wants to dance!. Flexibilty will help but not that much with barre excerises!. Alot of that is having strong thighs and ankles!.
Talk to whatever studio you will be taking at to find out if you will be taking with younger kids or not!. And when you can start pointe!.!.!.it will prob!. be when your ankles are strong enough!.
I would reccomend you start working out and running to get your legs strong!.!.and your arms because having them out in second position starts to hurt for a while!.
Just keep being a hardworker and I hope you have fun!Www@QuestionHome@Com

its boring!.

what you will be able to do is totally up to your abilities!. will you be able to do splits in the air!?!? depends on 1!. how hard you work 2!. how long you do lesson for 3!. how flexible you are!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

i started when i was 4 !. i dont do it now but i wish i never stop !. when you first start you dont have to be flexible you'll get better as you go , and you will start with kids in your own age groupWww@QuestionHome@Com

Sign up for a dance class that covers all the different styles and forms of dance!. Ballet will be one of them, but you might find something else you love more!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

if you don't mind large veins on your feet, then having anyextra skill like this really works to your advantage when u are olderWww@QuestionHome@Com

yes if u want to then do it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Do a barrel roll!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

1!. your teacher will tell you when ur ready to go en pointe its when he/she thinks youre ready it depends on ur ankle strength
2!.splits in the air are called leaps just so you know, it all depends on how flexible you are and how well u understand
3!.i dont think youre too old but it just depends on how you are able to comprehend the things you are doing and how well you do them
4!.you should probably take a level 3 class which is normally kids in the 9-12 range so yes it will be younger kids but dont get discouraged
5!. your feet will hurt in the beginning but after the first month or so youll be used to it just put ur feet in hot water and massage them after classes
6!. you cant tell if you have strong ankles until you start dancing and then ur teacher will be able to tell you
7!. to make them stronger do echappes releves eleves adn a grand plie in seconde and roll on to your toes into a forced arch!. you can also get an exercise band to strengthen ankles and arches heres a site where u can purchase them:

http://www!.discountdance!.com/frame_set!.p!.!.!.


good luck my best wishesWww@QuestionHome@Com

i'm not sure how long it will take you to be on pointe because i think it varies for different studios!. some people can never do the splits in the air during their leaps!.!.!.it just depends on your flexibility and experience!. and yes, it will probably help if you can do the splits since that will make your leaps look better!. i don't think you're too old to have a career in dance!.!.!.you just have to practice a lot so you can be at the same level as other dancers!. some studios allow you to join classes with people your age and some do it by beginning, etc!. levels!. ballet doesn't really hurt your feet, but pointe will! good luck with everythingWww@QuestionHome@Com

I, personally, take ballet lessons!. I don't know how many years it would take to get to pointe, but I'm guessing about 5-7 years!. My dance academy has different levels!. In my level, we usually run and do the splits in the air!. I might not have my splits down, but it's so fun!!! I've taken ballet for 6 years, but I haven't made it to pointe yet!. I don't think you'd start with pointe when you first start, but gradually you will move up and get to pointe!. I don't think you'll be with younger kids, but I'm not 100% sure on that!. It doesn't hurt me when I do ballet, but your feet will probally get sore when doing pointe, but don't worry that means your getting stronger!. And if you want strong ankles, do Tap! I don't do tap, but my dance teacher said that by doing tap you will build strong ankles!. That's all I can say about ballet!. But, the most important thing to do when taking ballet is to!.!.!.!.!.!.!.HAVE FUN!!!Www@QuestionHome@Com

how long til i get to go en pointe: probably a few years maybe more, it's impossible for any one on yahoo answers to give you a definite answer at this point!.

when will i start doing splits in the air when i run and jump: well obviously you won't be able to do it if you can't even do splits on the ground!. you have to be very flexible and your splits have to be effortless!. once again, it's impossible for anyone on yahoo answers to give you a definite amount of time!.

how flexible should i be: well the more flexible you are, the better!. being able to do splits will be helpful because it means your legs are flexible!. you also need to have flexible arms, shoulders, and back!.

am i too old to do something with my ballet training later in life: of couse not!. you just have to be really dedicated and work your butt off!. don't let people tell you you can't make any thing of it just because you started when you were 13 (i started at 15 by the way)!. the winner of so you think you can dance last year (sabra) won with only four years of experience so if she can do it, so can you!.

will i start in a class with younger kids: it all depends on how your studio divides up the classes!. the answer could be yes or no but don't worry if you have to!. it's not that bad and you'll move up to kids your own age eventually!.

will it hurt my feet: yes but it's definitely worth it!.

what are any other things i need to know: don't expect it to be easy and practice whenever you can!.

how can i make my ankles stronger: there are tons of little exercises you can do to help improve it but the easiest is to just walk around and stand in demi pointe (tip toes) whenever you can!.

do you think ballet is right for me: if you wanna do it (which it sounds like you do) then i say go for it!

best of luck :)Www@QuestionHome@Com