Expert: Jennifer - 11/16/2004

Question
Thanks again! I'm really sorry that this is the third question I've asked you but since you restarted
at nineteen, I feel like your advice actually means a lot. From one late starter to another. I was
just wondering, what have you gone on to do as a dancer? Have you done anything
professionally? I'm really looking for some inspiration here because it seems like the only late
starter out there in modern day times is Misty Copeland. (And wow, what an achievement.) I do
feel like I've advanced rather quickly because dance has always been something that comes easy
to me. I'm calling a very great studio in my area today to see if I can take class with them. It just
seems like all the late starters out there kinda stumbled into luck. Like Misty just happened to
find instructors that let her LIVE with them. That doesn't happen every day. So now I'm asking for
some personal advice. What do you recommend I do as a late starter? Just continue taking as
much class as possible (how much?) and try my hardest at every SI audition I can get my hands
on? I'm just looking for someone with experience to give me some direction. Thanks again and
again. lol

Adrian


Followup To
Question -
Thank you so much for your quick and detailed response. As a late starter, however, it is very
difficult for me to find adequate training. I'd love to go to a SI but since I am not yet in pointe
(only been in ballet for a few months, and about to switch studios), its hard for me to find SIs
that will take me. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks so much!
Adrian

-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Ok, I am a 15 year old girl who has been doing jazz for about a
year (a little over). I felt a little bored with jazz so last summer I
decided to give a go at my all-time dream: ballet. I fell in love. I
did it for about two months and then quit when school started
(couldn't afford it at the time). I am going back to ballet within
the next few weeks and had a few questions.

I really want to be a professional but classical ballet, while
beautiful, is just not me. I want to do something edgy, yet still
technical: Contemporary! I heard that contemporary doesn't
require as balletic of a body (like perfect turn out). Is this an
option for late starters like me? Also, can you give a little more
information on what it takes to be a contemporary dancer?

Thanks, Adrian
Answer -
Contemporary ballet i think is an excellent direction for you, Adrian. I think to get a good idea of
what it takes to become a top contemporary ballet dancer, check out the dancer profiles of a
contemporary dance company, like Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. All of their dancers are
classically trained in ballet, and a good number have actually danced for classical ballet
companies in the past. So classical ballet is extremely important to your repertoire!
Contemporary is based on the movements of classical ballet, as I know you are aware!

Contemporary ballet is a good option for late starters because of the differences in extremes of
movement. Contemporary companies are more concerned with emotion and movement than with
the perfection of positions and physique. As inspired a dancer as one might be, there are some
things that the big classical ballet companies (like ABT) require that a late starter cannot acheive.
You have a much better chance with a contemporary company than a classical one, so you've set
realistic goals for yourself.

Definately focus on ballet... but to have the versatility needed for contemporary dance you need
to continue to expose yourself to other forms of dance like modern and jazz, and perhaps even
forms of ethnic dance, like flamenco and african.

I tell anyone who is looking to become a professional that the classes and teachers you have are
crucial. You have to have the best possible teachers and classes to advance to the professional
level. Also make sure your teacher is well aware of your intentions so he/she can help you get
there! This may mean that you need to change studios -- which can be difficult! Also audition for
summer workshops and intensives... see if you can find one that focuses on contemporary
repertoire. These intensives can be invaluable to finding professional contacts and learning as
many styles as you can!

Please let me know if you have any more questions along the way, or need me to clarify anything.
I'll be happy to help!
Answer -
I completely understand your concern. I took ballet when I was very young, quit, and then began
again at 19. It is very difficult to find good training especially at my age at the time, but I was
lucky because I took class at a university where top notch instructors were on the faculty. I did
not study pointework because of the nature of my classes... but none-the-less, I did find a
summer intensive that didn't require pointework.

You do understand that you are behind the other serious ballet students at your age, but you
might be suprised that some of the smaller, less competitive summer intensives are quite a bit
more accomodating than ABT, Boston, San Francisco, and New York City Ballets' programs. I
found myself at Tulsa Ballet's summer intensive -- when I went, they charged those students
who weren't currently studying pointe a different tuition. The only major drawback was that the
ballet portion of the final performance wasn't available to students who weren't en pointe. The
programs are out there, you just have to dig a little bit deeper.

Pointe Magazine should be coming out with its summer intensive issue soon, which will
definately have some listings that you will find interesting! I'll let you know if I see the issue any
time soon!

Answer
I'm sorry it took me so long to get to this... I thought I had answered you, but apparently it didn't go through.

Since I started again, I took as many dance classes as I could enroll in without going broke and keeping up with my college classes. I was lucky to be in a college with an excellent ballet program, and I studied with excellent teachers. I was uniquely lucky! I have a challenging ballet body... my hamstrings, hips, and back are very inflexible, so while I studied very hard and improved immensely, I still have not reached an aesthetic that would be appropriate for the stage. Once I graduated from college, that wonderful resource was no longer available to me, and since then finding classes suitable for me has become challenging. I did find a good class that meets twice a week, taught by a Balanchine dancer who performed with a professional company. She is very knowledgable and gives a good class, but since it is open-enrollment, it lacks the structured curriculum I thrive in. That sort of class structure is very hard to find for adults outside of universities. If you can find it, stick with it! I also now have a full time job (though it is dance related... im assistant manager at a major dance retail chain store), which makes it impossible to study dance enough to advance at a rate that would allow me to become a professional.

I'm not sure if I mentioned it, but while I was still in college, I did advance to the point that I was accepted to a summer intensive given by a fully professional ballet company. I do not currently study pointework.

To get on to the rest of your question -- every professional dancer's story is marked by some sort of luck. In many cases, it was just luck that she was born with a suitable body. They're lucky that their families could afford to pay for lessons (or they were lucky to get a scholarship). They're lucky to have found just the right teacher that would help them advance. Of course skill is extremely important, but so much of it is being in the right place at the right time.

My advice is that you take every class that you can afford or have time for. Make an effort to form relationships with your teacher (not necessarily friendly... you just need to make your desires and interests known, and keep communication open!). Drink up all the information you can. Watch videos, read books. You've got to pack years of knowledge, training, and information into a smaller amount of time than those dancers who started young. You will get discouraged... but dont let that make you lose sight of your ultimate goal. Only persistance (and a little luck) will help you toward your goal.