Expert: Connie - 9/10/2009

Question
My daughter has been doing ballet since she was 5 years old, she is now 13 and a half andwants to stop as she says that she is bored.  I think the problem started when we moved from South Africa to the UK. She did RAD ballet and is doing the same in England.  She is doing Grade 6 ballet and has been doing interfoundation for a year now. She definately has a talent and i am really not sure that she should be giving up!  I am not sure if it is the dance school.  We don't have very many schools in our area.  The next closest school is an hour's drive away.  It makes me very sad as dancing has been her life and I feel that it is an absolute waste of talent to throw it all away!!  Please advise.  Should she possibly give it a break for a while, or what would you suggest?   Thank you.

Answer
If your daughter feels that she wants to quit, it may be best to take some time off.  Hopefully this will enable her to figure out if she misses it enough to go back.  If she doesn't want to, it'll be a shame to waste her talent, but she'll be happier doing something else.  I would let her figure out what she wants to do and don't force anything on her.  Best of luck!