Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 1/31/2008

Question
Recently I've become really interested in learning ballet but don't know whether I'm too old to start or what i need to do to be able to start learning. I am a very determined young man and when I set my mind to something i will do everything within my power to achieve it.

I am around 5'10" and weight 154, I do not have a muscular or toned body and am not terribly flexible but I am aiming to change that.

Basically I want to know whether I am too old to start now, what I will need to do to be ready to learn and any general advice I can get.

Many thanks, Jon

Answer
Hi Jon. First of all, I'll tell you that I taught a young man named Tedd Robinson, and he started at the age of 20. He actually had a beer belly. He worked hard, and eventually became a renowned choreographer and artistic director, in modern dance. Not ballet, but he didn't choose it. So determination counts for a lot.

I don't know where you are, but if you're in a big city start visiting all the studios. See if they have male students, some don't. Not that they design it that way, but it happens.

I have a series of articles on "How To Choose A Ballet Teacher" on http://www.theballetstore.com Some are in the blog section so you have to get a user name to log in and read everything. Don't read all the technical stuff - but read it later! It's a lot of info...

You want to visit studios and you want to know what you are looking at. That's why I wrote those articles. A lot of studios support male students because they are fewer than the female population - maybe with scholarships, for example, if they feel you have potential. They may not decide that immediately...

Cross training really helps - I recommend Slow Burn which you can get on DVD at seriousfitness.com. I also recommend Pilates because of the core strengthening and the stretching. It will help you progress faster in ballet.

This may seem bizarre - but I also recommend a pre-pointe manual to male students because of the incredible detail in anatomy, exercises and stretching. While I recommend it to all female students to prepare for or strengthen their pointe work, I think the basics on strengthening and stretching feet is essential for males too. You can see it on the front page of theballetstore.com. (Or, the link is http://www.linkbrander.com/go/54727)It costs money ($47.77 US) but I think it's a text that dance students will use for many years. It covers posture, turnout, foot types, anatomy, and more.

My articles cover all of this too, from a teacher's viewpoint. The special thing about this book is that it is written by a dance medicine specialist with all the anatomical and mechanics of movement spelled out. Late training means you have to know how to prevent injury.

I cannot say whether you are too old or not. Maybe, to be in a major world class company. I do not know what you look like, but training will change that anyway. I hope you find some really good training. I would recommend a Cechetti based school over an RAD, it is more related to professional styles than RAD. Absence of a syllabus does not mean anything either, if the students look good - if you know what you're looking at.

So do all this investigation and see what you think. Definitely take a few months of classes and see how you do. You are young enough to get in shape quickly.

And please read some of my articles on healthy diet! It makes a lot of difference....

All the best, Dianne.