Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 10/16/2010

Question
Hi,
I'm turning 14 this up coming March the 1st and I want to become a professional ballerina. I used to dance at 8 but quit at 12, but before I quit I was told I could go en pointe. The thing is I don't think the dance studio was that good. It was their first year having pointe as an option and none of the teachers were real professonals. All they did is dance as a child and go to college for it.
But anyway, my question is if I will be able to go pro. An if there is a chance, what can I do to get there? And how do I catch up on the stuff I missed?
I hope you can answer my question. Sorry it's soooo long.
Samantha

Answer
http://www.nbs-enb.ca/professional/audition/default.aspx Toronto

http://www.rwbschool.com/pro/Auditions/Overview.aspx Winnipeg

http://www.esbcm.org/english/ecole/  Montreal

The above ballet schools are your best bet. If they take you, they think you have a chance.

If they take you, they will help you catch up.

If they don't take you, that does not mean that you need to stop dancing ballet. But it does mean that you can ask yourself why you are drawn to ballet. Would you love performing in some other field - say acting, jazz, or modern dance?

Do you think that your talent would express somewhere other than ballet? I ask this because many a dancer who could dance, but not at the level they wanted to, lost the opportunity to transition to another art where they may have excelled, or become a star.

This is a shame. Because the arts are so competitive, the sooner you figure out where you really belong, the better.

So check out the above links, the audition dates, and where you might audition. You never know where this adventure will lead!

I wish you all the best, whichever stage you end up on!  Dianne