I love ballet but many things keep coming in the way?

Question

i'm already 14 and started ballet a few months ago. i'm now doing primary grade and grade one at the same time. at first i loved it with all my heart. but i'm coming to notice that as much as i like it, many things just seems to stop me. for one thing, i start it with a friend of mine, and we're in the same grade, same company but different branch. she is very beautiful, all elegant and she has a perfect body and talent for ballet. and well, i don't, it makes me feel bad, i feel like i'm terrible. she looks elegant in the mirror, and i look clumsy.

secondly, my family is not rich and ballet costs a lot, especially when you're doing 2 grades at a time. plus, my mum needs to cope for my sis's college fees, my and my sister's piano fees and simply everything, my dad's not working, he's a retiree. and sometimes it just makes me feel bad about it, like i'm doing something i shouldn't.

3rdly, i have health issues. i get tired out easily and i'd really hyperventilate and i'll faint and many embarrassed things would happen, when i do or perform any kind of sports. i just can't like it this way.

and, i'm really feeling lousy at it. i mean, imagine being with a class of peopel half of my age and half of my size too. having everything but what a dancer should have. dealing with a super talented mdancer who would probably be skipping a few grade before me. having health issues. family financial problems.

and many more. because i grow up in a somewhat different family, and things are never the same with me...

Answer 1

maybe ballet just isn't your thing have you ever thought about taking another dance style eg, jazz, tap, or street.

they're all reasonable priced just stay away from latin and ballroom, very expensive

Answer 2

you know. if you want to dance badly enough you will find a way. and think positively (this is hard for me as well).

1. just because your friend has the "ideal" ballet body doesn't mean you should feel discouraged. many of the world's most famous and greatest ballet dancers did/do not have the ideal body. (my dance teacher, and some of my mentors being some of them)

2. some of the greatest dancers and performers have come from very poor or tight income families. maybe you can work out a scholarship with your school, or a deal of some sort.

3. i would say to work slowly and get up your stamina. and try to do other things as you dance. like swim, run, etc so you can work up stamina and strength in other parts of you body as well. one summer i was on a swim team while i danced. and i saw a bigger difference in my stamina and that i didn't get as tired as fast as before.

4. i will say it again. some of the greatest dancers did/do not have ideal bodies and in some cases started quite late. so don't be discouraged by the other girls; focus on yourself, your dancing and your improvement (i know it sounds selfish, but it works). work WITH your body and you will improve (i cannot stress the importance of working WITH your body).

listen to the corrections your teacher gives you, get out there and perform as much as you can, if they tape your performances try to get a hold of one and watch it, if something doesn't feel right in your body fix it (e.g. if you knees start hurting don't force your turn out), use visualization to see what you want to look like and don't get discouraged. or give up.

there are many times i want to quit as well, whether it's because i don't feel good enough or because i wanted and worked for a part but didn't get it. and at one point my dad was laid off and money was tight and i didn't know what i would be able to do for several months (though i still got to dance class throughout those months; my parents do real estate on the side). but i still came back to dance, no matter what.

and i have found though things have made me want to quit or stopped me (as you put it), i just can't seem to stop. because though it may seem as if the love for the art is gone, it is still there; it's just, well, shown and executed in a different way. whether its wanting to be the best out there, to small improvements, or stepping up to the plate unexpectedly. i think you just need to decide whether or not you really LOVE TO DANCE, because without heart dance is just a bunch of acrobatics. and talent is only 10% of the formula, heart is 50%, and hard work is 50%. but it also seems to me that you are stopping yourself; though why you'll have to find out for yourself.

i hope this may be enouraging and empowering to you so that you may continue to dance and do what makes you happy.

Answer 3

If you're asking permission to drop it, I'd say yes. Ballet when you're doing it right is really a hard work out and if you're having problems otherwise with your health ballet will eventually aggravate it more. Put your extra time into your piano practice and get really good. Playing the piano is something you can do the rest of your life.  

Answer 4

Well, you have quite a few options here...

1st:

Drop piano. If ballet means more to you, then just drop it. If your parents won't let you, tell them you love ballet, and don't want to spend money doing something you don't love as much (piano).

2nd:

Try a different dance. Maybe ballet is too expensive, competitive, or just not your thing. Try Jazz dance, Tap dance, Modern dance, Contemporary dance, Lyrical dance, anything you want! Just research it on the internet and maybe watch some videos on youtube.

3rd:

Drop dance altogether. Maybe it's just not your thing. Stick with piano.

So I gave you some options, hope this helps, have a nice day!!

=)

Answer 5

1- don't look in the mirror when you're dancing! it makes EVERYONE look bad. i promise :] don't compare yourself with your friend either. you need to focus on you while in ballet and try to improve.

2- have your parents actually come up to you and have said that they can't have you taking ballet? if not, money isn't really your problem. it's your parents and if they feel like they can handle all the bills while you're taking dance, then don't worry about it.

3-performing is the best! try to be positive when you are performing. to make performances easier, pretend that you are in a show in each of your ballet classes. this is what i do at least.. it helps me to not be nervous about anyone else and only worry about ME. i'm not sure if you have been on stage before, but pretend no one is watching you. that its just a rehearsal. you can because you can't even SEE the audience.

4- you seriously cannot keep comparing yourself to others. it brings you down and its unnecessary. eventually you will move up with girls your own age and you will get better. you JUST started a few months ago so give yourself some credit!! haha really!! and i'm almost positive you have gotten better from just those months. you know what a tendu is. you know what a pirouette is. and how to do them right. did you know how to do them before? i'm guessing no.. at least not correctly...

stick with dancing and good luck :]

Answer 6

You have to get your priorities straight and your going to have to make some sacrafices if you want it that bad.  If your having physical problems then you need to see a doctor right away.  Good Luck!

Answer 7

I joined with a friend a long time ago too. I only kept doing it because she was doing it. She quit a few years ago and I began to have my doubts about my talent and almost threw it away by quitting. I thought I looked clumsy. I was 13 or 14. But little did I realize at the time, my clumsiness just had to do with the fact that I was growing and maturing. It happens to everyone at some point or another.

Now I'm 17 and am so glad that I didn't give up on ballet. I love with a lot now and am even considering becoming a ballet teacher someday.

If ballet is something that you love, stick with it no matter how clumsy you may seem to yourself now. It will get better the harder you work.

If finances are a big issue, maybe consider taking less classes. Or talk to your teacher and see if there is maybe something you can do around the studio like assistant teaching to take some money off of your tuition.

There's ways around these sorts of things..

Answer 8

Well, with the hole friend thing, there are always going to be better people than you, but you can't let that stop you, if you'd quit that easily because of that than its obviously not for you. But maybe you could take another class and you'd be better. Im 15 and I'v been taking ballet/lyrical/contemporary/jazz/tap since i was 3 or 4 and pointe since i was about 10. But it's extrememly hardwork, you have to be committed and dedicated and work hard at it if you want to be good, and sometimes you'll have to be humiliated and be the worst one in the class to get to where you want to be. So just try some other options in dance. Good Luck!

Answer 9

Maybe you should try some other form of dance,something that is going to make you feel good about yourself and beautiful just like your friend.Please stop putting yourself down, you need to think more positive.Dont stop dancing if you love it,just put yourself first and if your sister plays the piano whats wrong with you having an interest too.You really have to look at why you  have all these reasons why you should stop.

Answer 10

Well I'm 13,I'm in Grade 3.Maybe you will think that at least my situation is better than yours,but you are wrong.Excluding me the oldest dancer in my class is like 9 years old! And of course I'm twice their size to and looks bad in the mirror. I am clumsy too. Altough I don't faint in class, I have asthma.I can also get dizzy easily due to lack of glucose.Altough I don't have financial problem,but I have to cope with piano,violin and schooling in a school that only student with straight A's can go in ,so that means stress to me.But most importantly, I never drop out ballet because I like it.I think you shouldn't give up on something you like.

Wish you all the best.