Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 1/4/2011

Question
Hello! Well, I want to ask you a few questions about ballet...first of all: I'm not sure if I want to become a professional dancer, or perhaps the problem is, I'm not sure if I can...you see my teacher doesn't push me enough I think, but I've been with her since I was 9, so I don't feel I can move (our ballet school is a family friendly one) and I'm 14 now and I have only just started training for pointes (will that matter in the long run?) and I want to do more ballet but then there's the money factor, and also I have never actually done more than two classes a week...sad I know...I am trying to push myself at home, I can just do two pirouettes one my right leg, but only in chaines! argg, I cant to more than one on the spot! its so frustrating...is it too much to hope for that I might go further in dance?? also, is 55 kilo's okay 14 yr old dancer? I just want to be better and stuff...well, that's all... I really, really, really hope you answer this and put it up so I can read your reply...
thanks!

Answer
Hi Kira. I can't see you dance, so I'm not sure what I can say...however - here are some tips about pirouettes -

http://balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/2008/07/preparing-chaine-turns-for...

http://balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-can-i-improve-basics-o...

http://balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-to-improve-basics-of-p...

What you weigh doesn't matter so much right now - you are still growing!

Also the blog mentioned in the links above has lots of articles you can read about ballet technique, to use for practicing at home and making sure you're doing things correctly. It is a shame that you cannot do more classes.  If you really want to know about becoming a professional, you could audition for a professional school and see if you get in. If you do, it may be possible to get a scholarship for training.

Whatever you do, keep dancing, and keep enjoying it no matter what happens.

I hope this reply helps! Regards, Dianne.