Expert: Jennifer - 7/22/2006

Question
Hi,
I took ballet when I was 6. I'm 19 now and want to start dancing again, will I have to start at the very beginning and relearn everything again?

Answer
Congrats on your decision to start dancing again!

In my own experience (mine is not that dissimilar to yours!), it is very important to go back and take a beginning class after being away from dance for so long. Since the basics are such an important foundation to your dancing, its always a good idea to make sure your mind and body are refreshed on proper basic technique -- especially since at 19, you learn very differently than a 6 year old. Whereas little kids learn very quickly just by imitation, us adults need it explained to us! Plus, you will need to take it slow to get your body back in shape before you move on to the more advanced things, so you don't burn yourself out or hurt your body!

When I got the same inkling you did (i got mine at 19 as well, when i was in college), I enrolled in a beginning adult ballet class at school. Having danced before, I was way ahead of the rest of the class, but that doesn't matter -- I still had a lot of work to do to get that muscle memory back. I took a semester of Ballet I, and then I took another semester of Ballet I while adding Ballet II (a very difficult and frustrating endeavor given that Ballet II at the college level (at least at this college) is quite advanced for me, essentially an adult beginner with a little bit of a head start. In two years, however, I was able to advance enough to be able to hold my own at a pre-professional summer ballet intensive at a fairly reknowned  ballet company.

In summary, yes, definitely start at the beginning - but you will probably be able to advance much faster than other beginners who did not dance when they were younger. Plus, your body will thank you for starting out slow and ramping up to more advanced movements.

Good luck!