Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 12/31/2010

Question
I am a late starter in ballet, I started taking lessons when I was about 13 years old. I'm 17 currently. This past summer I began entertaining serious ideas about trying to become a professional dancer. However, when I talked to my ballet studio director about it he said that "I had chosen ballet, ballet had not chosen me" and that I couldn't really expect to be a professional.

How do I deal with this rejection?? I absolutely adore ballet but I'll be going to college next school year, and I'll be lucky to take any ballet class. It feels like I am going through a divorce. His lack of confidence in me and my impending leave for college have started eating away at my love for ballet.

How do I deal with this rejection but still keep my love of ballet alive?? How can I manage to keep dancing while in college??

Answer
Hi Emily. Coincidentally, I had just reviewed this blog post because someone had left a comment there. Then I read your question, about the same topic.
http://balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/2010/06/word-of-encouragement-for-...

Your ballet studio director has pointed out to you that it is unlikely that you will do the physically impossible, which is reach a professional level in ballet, at your age. Perhaps you could have, if you had started earlier and had professional training. I believe he would probably say the same thing to just about anyone in the same situation. Ballet "chooses" very few, just like sports, opera, etc.

But you are already the star in your own life and there is plenty of time to "script" various possibilities...

Read the above article I wrote and take some time to reflect on what you can do in ballet and dance, starting where you are now. Think about how dancing makes you feel, and why you are drawn to ballet. If you want to keep dancing to keep that particular experience of life's joy going, I'm sure you will come up with a plan.

Do an internet search for colleges that have dance programs -  you will find many, including community colleges.

All the best, Dianne.