Expert: Jennifer - 3/27/2005

Question
I am 16 and have only recently started ballet and desperetely wish to become a professional. It is a dream I have always wanted but because of family circumstances have been unable to acheive. I have moved classes from complete a complete  beginners class - with children as young as 8 - to an advanced/intermediate class with people as old as 19 in a space of less than six months. I live in Aberdeen, Scotland. I really want to go to ballet school but fear I have started too late. Luckily I am blessed with natural flexibility and can already do an arabesque penchee to 140 degrees. Can you tell if I am too old to go to ballet school and what I should do next in acheiving my dream(if it is possible).  

Answer
If you are very dedicated and are blessed with a good body and talent, then I dont think that age should stop you. 16 is old to begin, but its not *that* old, and I get questions from 19 and 20 year olds all the time with your same question! You are young enough that you can still get into a pre-professional school, and if you can gain admission, then you should definately go for it! It sounds like you have everything figured out already --- you know what you want, and it sounds like you know what you need to do to get there... take class. a lot.

since you are a late starter and arent ready for the professional world by the time you graduate high school, look into a well-respected college program, like University of Oklahoma in America, that gives you a lot of classtime and performance opportunities. Also, try to get into the respected summer intensives (and there are plenty in Europe!). You might seek RAD testing and certification... it can help you know where you stand and what you need to work on... and how close you are to the level you want to reach.

Hope this helps!