Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 1/6/2010

Question
Hello,
I'm 14 going 15 and i want to start ballet. However, i haven't had to guts to ask my mom for lessons since i was 7. So for the last 5 years i've been on my school's team sport, soccer and volleyball. And also jazz and gymnastic lessons after school for the lat year. Recently, my sportiness has broken my fingers. I've been looking for some thing i can do, because once my fingers heals i still cant play sports for six months. So my mom suggested ballet, becuase she knows i like to dance (now i feel depressed, my own mom suggest something i've been wanting to ask her for since i as 7)
my question is that:
a) if i have broken my finger before, can i still dance ballet? is there a chance i'll become good at it?
b) how much will it take for me to become relly good at ballet?
c) and even though i know the chances are slim, but there any chance at all that i can be good enough to become a professional? I've heard of epople that start late but try really hard and become professionals

please reply
Som

Answer
Hi Som. It seems there is a chance you could become good at ballet. You have learned to work hard with sports, and are fit. Exactly how well you can progress to a professional level would depend on your physique, talent and teacher.

I recommend that you go into at least two classes a week, one quite basic and one at whatever level the teachers recommend. Having a broken finger will not impair you in any way. Ideally, you would do 5-7 classes a week to train professionally.

Make sure your mom understands that you want to stay with ballet and not go back to sports, so she can help you with your goals.

In most professional schools, a student is evaluated by the end of the first year as to how much progress has been made. I think if you do as much ballet as you can, but not skipping any technical training, you and your teachers could have an idea in a year as to how you will advance.

Ballet is a wonderful way to stay fit for the rest of your life regardless. So if you do not become professional, nothing will have been wasted.

All the best! Dianne.