Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 4/20/2009

Question
I understand that children's muscles are not ready for serious ballet exercise until 8 or 9 years old. Russia starts them I believe at 9 but hand picks them for professional work only. Obviously we make it fun for the young ones, but do we have any problems with training to hard at too young an age in this country?

Answer
Hi Ann. Judging from the questions I have received from concerned parents, yes I believe there are ballet schools that push too hard.

Teachers may push because they have a business to run, and there is always competition. Some parents push, and many students push themselves  even though teachers and parents try to get them to train with patience.

Teachers who know better than to over train younger students must accept losing one occasionally, to another school who will allow a student to advance, because they appear to be ready to do so. I've talked to many students who have planned to change studios because they will be allowed to go onto pointe sooner, sometimes at 8 or 9 years old.

Fortunately teacher training is much enhanced these days by the publications of dance medicine specialists who give teachers all the back up they need to not train young children too hard.

All the best, Dianne