Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 10/20/2010

Question
Hi! My name is Koreena and I am fifteen years old. I have been dancing since I was 13, in mostly classical ballet and that's what this questions concerns. I absolutely love ballet and I am at a low key studio so because of my age and status, I get some pretty substancial roles in our productions. However I feel like I don't deserve them. Many girls my age and younger are way ahead of me. THe only activity I do other than school is ballet and I am at my studio for multiple hours five days a week. It isn't for lack of good training or practice, but for some reason I am just not up to par and I don't know if I'll ever be.

I watch videos of myself and I feel like crying. I've been on pointe for five years and I just recently got to the point where I can get all the way up on my box every single time. My turnout is horrendous and my shoulders are off. I can't do most turns and my leg extensions are not pretty.

I don't want to quit, but should I keep putting energy into improving things that aren't getting better?

Here is my latest video performing the lead in Balanchine's choreography of the Dance of the Reed Pipes from Nutcracker... it was the first time on pointe.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=155681584472714&saved

Thanks so much!

Answer
Hi Koreena. The link to your video didn't come up properly, so I haven't seen you dance.

Here's my response, from what you told me.

I think you are a very honest person, and may be seeing yourself honestly and realistically, judging from the way you assess yourself compared to younger girls in your studio.

You have a status you have earned, from the time you have put in, yet you see these other younger girls as having more talent. I think that is what you are saying.

You may have come to the point where you will not improve in ballet. That's a tough thing to realize, yet you may have figured it out.

Do you realize also, how hard ballet is for those who were not "born to dance"? It's he** if you get what I mean.

AND you tell me you've only been dancing for 2 years? That is fabulous, for what you are dancing. You may not even be strong enough for dancing in pointe shoes, yet have been performing in pointe shoes.

Most studios put dancers on pointe after three years of training, doing three classes a week, minimum. If your studio is doing something different, cut yourself some slack, and just keep going.

Unless you are getting clear signals that you are not good enough, do not assume that you aren't.

Here's a blog post I wrote that gives exercises to increase strength for pointe work. Do the exercises, and see how your pointe work improves....

http://balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/2008/10/use-of-theraband-for-balle...

There are posts on the blog about pointe shoe sizing, and more, that may help you too.

All the best, Dianne.