Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 1/10/2010

Question
i LOVE ballet. I love everything about it, the grace, the beauty, the control. I danced a bit when i was younger, but i had to stop. I'm 15 now, and i started classes again like 2 months ago. I would love to be a professional ballerina, but everyone i tell this to tells me it's impossible. I am switching studios next month to a more serious program, but i will have to be able to catch up to girls who have been doing it there whole lives. And a bunch of people say i will have to loose like 10 lbs, and my dad thinks it is stupid. So basically my question: what do i need to do, and what should a new diet be, and how to improve my technique?

Thank you SOO much!
-Stephanie

Answer
Hi Stephanie. You may be too old to become a professional ballet dancer. I can't see you dance, so I cannot say for sure.

Bear in mind that many striving for a career in ballet have been taking 6-9 classes a week since they were 9-10 years old, with world class teachers. That is your competition.  

On the other hand, there is so much benefit in taking ballet, that if you can, take it anyway. When you switch to your new studio, talk to your teacher and tell her you would like to be serious about ballet, and ask her to help you improve your technique.

Most growing young people can lose weight just by eliminating junk foods from their diet. Consider anything packaged, canned, or frozen, to be junk foods. It's a pretty big responsibility to eat good fresh foods, but if you do, you may not have to worry about dieting.

I have written a great deal about correct ballet technique at:

http://www.balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/

There is a lot there about healthy diet too. Scan through the posts, and you may find some useful information.

Your dad might like to know that ballet is one of the top athletic trainings. Professional football players and tennis players study aspects of ballet to improve their footwork and avoid injuries. It's not just pretty and pink! Typically male ballet dancers score higher than any other athletes in strength, stress and endurance tests.

Taking ballet will help you grow big and strong! It's a full body workout with soul.

So I cannot say yes or no to your question - there are many ballet companies with some variation in technical proficiency, just in the US. There may be a place for you in the professional world.

All the best, Dianne.