Expert: Jennifer - 2/23/2005

Question

Hello. I am 22 years old and I have been dancing ballet and tap since I was 4. Ballet is my passion... classical, contemporary, modern, and of course Pointe. All of it!

I really don't enjoy bringing this back up to the surface of my thoughts, but I have a dilemma. I was told by at least three dance instructors throughout my life that I should not aspire towards professionalism...

1. My legs are longer in proportion to the rest of my body. Long legs on a short height (5'3") is abnormal and doesn't give a good look to a graceful ballerina apparently?
2. I have a crooked back (scholiosis) and a heavily arched back. This is inherited from my father. My back gives me pain at times and it locks up on me and makes me fall stiffly to the floor. Doctors have told me they can't do anything for me, as my case minor and trying to fix something that minor may make my back worse than it already is.
3. No instructor will teach me Pointe. I am 22. I took Pointe for one lousy year at the age of 14 and even that was a huge exception from begging my instructor. My parents could not pay for toeshoes every year and so I abandoned the idea of going professional.

I have never told my parents that my instructors have told me I should not go professional due to my age, height, and back conditions. My mother asked me if I wanted to try joining the Grand Rapids Ballet here in Michigan. I was about age 10 maybe? I reluctantly said no, thinking about what my instructors had told me, gave the lame excuse that I wanted to learn more about my drawing arts instead. I abandoned the idea of going professional, even though it is the one thing I want to aspire toward in life, because some prick instructors said I wouldn't make it as one.

I watched a show on TV about a girl named Sora that wanted to join a grand circus really badly but her parents were against the idea and thought it foolish. She had so much determination and guts that she never got discouraged by what anyone said to her and did the gorgeous routines anyway. I wish I had been like that girl, not listening to the instructors' jabs at my ego. But I did listen to them. After the show I took a long shower and cried the entire time. I realized that I was both jealous and happy for Sora. The feelings I had buried inside me about dancing professionally came back in full swing. I couldn't stop crying. I want to go back.

Can I go back? I want to go back so badly. I've been dancing as a hobby since age 4, but to go professional classical ballerina you have to learn Pointe, right? What instructor is going to teach a 22 year old to go on Pointe after not having done it for 8 years and only that one year? I've asked around at different schools, and each one has refused to teach me because they say I will hurt my feet. If I break my feet, that's my own damn fault! I can't go through life without ever knowing if I could do it again.

I want to dance professionally. I always have. I realize this now. It's not like I don't have the skills or the experience. I do! But no one will teach me Pointe and I'm beginning to lose hope. Help me please. Dancing and dance choreography are my only true goals in life. I can't deny myself any longer! It's burning me!

I'm sorry this was so long. Thank you so much for listening.

Allison


Answer
Hello, Allison -- sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you... allexperts ate my first responce.

First, I will rebutt the 3 reasons you couldnt be a dancer:

1. Balanchine actually preferred a dancer with long legs and a short torso. As one of the most influential people in the history of ballet, your body cant be that undesirable.
2. Many dancers have overcome alignment problems. Granted, if it is bad enough you will not be able to acheive correct alignment, but many problems can definately be overcome.
3. This is a bigger problem. Personally, I don't see why you shouldnt be able to learn pointe at your age. Yes you are older for a dance student, but physically you're still very young. However, you cannot learn pointe on your own, you have to do it under the observation of a teacher. Perhaps if the teachers knew you were wanting to study pointe seriously and not just for fun, they might reconsider. Otherwise you will have to shop around for teachers to teach you pointe. I mean, professional dancers dance on pointe at your age, whats to stop you from learning at your age?

The influence of discouraging dance teachers to young students is very powerful. Potentially, some of the best dancers in the world have never reached their potential because of those teachers who play favorites. Its terrible!

But it sounds like you have the drive and the attitude to prove them wrong. Reaching the point of professional dancer starting at your age is very difficult and you will have to beat the odds. You have to be willing to put everything else in your life in second place, and ballet has to take center stage (so to speak). You have to find an excellent teacher who believes and you, and you're going to have to live in the studio. You have to accept that you will most likely not be a dancer at ABT or New York City Ballet... but it is certainly not too late to perform if you have the drive, talent, and luck to make it.

Please let me know how you do and if I can help you along the way.