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Question
I'm a sixteen, nearly seventeen year old girl and I want to know if I am too large/heavy to dance ballet.
I'm 5'3/5'4 and I weigh around 110 lbs. I haven't danced for nearly a year now, but I am going to get back into it.
I consider myself a perfectionist, especially when it comes to ballet and looking 'right'. Please tell me if this is too heavy for a dancer.
Thanks.
Hi Billy. No, 110 lbs. is not too heavy for a ballet dancer.
When you get back into ballet, you may even gain some muscle weight that will not change the way you look at all. So don't be too serious about what the scale says.
Certainly, alarms go off in my head when a ballet student mentions perfectionism. True perfectionism is distorted thinking about almost everything, so I hope you understand about that. While ballet is demanding, and "practice makes perfect", be careful of overworking and not allowing proper muscle rest. Or of not eating enough while your body goes through growth spurts with bones lengthening and soft tissues trying to catch up, and you perhaps not allowing some appetite increase to be fulfilled periodically.
I have a blog http://www.balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com There are several articles about healthy eating, should you be interested.
All the best with your return to ballet!Dianne
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 9 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Thanks Dianne, I hope to do well at it, too, and perhaps shape my body so it is ballet-lithe. Thanks for your reply. | ||
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Dianne M. Buxton
Expertise
I can answer questions about ballet positions, ballet movements and ballet technique, pointe shoes and pre pointe exercise, mens training, ballet diet, general health issues related to dance, artistry, performance, modern dance, rehabilitation from injuries, and teaching ballet. I have taught ballet, choreographed, produced and directed dance companies. For any answers related to health questions I will offer my experience, and give references to information, but I also automatically include "see a professional".
Experience
dancer, ballet and modern, choreographer, dance teacher, artistic director, ballet mistress, producer
Organizations
I.S.T.D. Actra, Actors Equity
Publications
http://ezinearticles.com
http://ballettoeshoes.blogspot.com
http://streetarticles.com
http://balletconnections.com
Education/Credentials
Graduate of the National Ballet School of Canada where I studied Cecchetti, Bournonville, Vaganova and Graham technique. Taught at the National Ballet School of Canada, York University, George Brown College and Harvard University.
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