I want to learn ballet?

Question

hi, im a 15 year old girl, and i am desperate to learn ballet but im not sure if i'll be able to. ive been doing irish dancing from the age of 6, and ive been to nationals for it, as well as comps every month, & won every one of my dances in every grade up to novice.ive also been doing artistic skating with a coach for about 3 years, and before that i'd been teaching myself jumps and spins since the age of 7.

so i learn new skills pretty easily, and i have a good background in dance, and ballet-type movements (skating routines). im flexible, i did gymnastics for 3 years, and i have a good sense of rhythm (irish hard shoe, and i go to a selective music school)

im quitting irish this year, and i would really like to learn ballet.

1. is it expensive? how expensive?

2. how quickly do you think i'll progress?

3. will ballet help my skating? i know many people at my rink also do ballet.

4. am i too old?

5. what would i start out learning? hw long will it take me to get onto pointe?

thanks!

Answer 1

Learning Ballet will be affordable, especially at your age. It can range anywhere from fifty dollars to several hundreds of dollars per monthly session ( 4 hours a month), but that also depends on the school and how much they are willing to teach as well. Attending a more prestigious school will be more costly. If you are able to enter a ballet company to train you (while you are in a scholarship), that might be the best.  

You have a well rounded background in dance so I believe you will do quite well. The only thing to watch for, in my opinion, is to learn and incorporate in class only what the instructor teaches you. You will want to restrain using your Irish dancing and self taught spins and jumps during ballet, before you consult your instructor. There are many jumps performed in ballet, it will definitely compliment your skating. For your age, 15, if you plan on becoming competitive in ballet (such as making it your profession), you will need some catching up but you are not too old.

When you do start taking ballet, you will most likely start with conditioning, balance, and posture (Barre work and Center Work) - the fundamentals before any jumps, turns, spins, and combinations.

Pointe work will take a few years to develop as your bones will need to be conditioned but it all depends on your instructor as well.

Answer 2

1.no. as long as you want to learn it you'll be able to sacrifice for it.

2.in only a shortwhile

3.yes.it will

4.no your not that old to start learning ballet in fact you have a good background

5. you will start with "proper breathing exercises" along with proper bvalance. i just do not know how long it will take....z....

Answer 3

Wow. You have done a lot of dancing.

1. It isn't expensive. Where I go, it's only $27 a month.

2. Depending on what level they put you in, very quickly

3. Ballet helps with everything. It gives you grace and balance

4. No one is too old to learn to dance. There was a girl at my studio that started when she was 17.

5. If you go into beginning level, you will start with shenne turns, leaps, and pointing your toes! At my studio, you have to take at least 2 years of ballet and be 12 years old before you can start pointe. So I'm not sure.

Good luck!

Answer 4

The price depends on where you live and what studio you go to. You'll prolly proggress quickly if you work hard. It prolly will, it helps build muscle,balance and grace. no your never too old to start. You would start with basic ballet and jumps then eventually work your way up, If you did well you'd prolly be able to be in pointe in a quickly ( 1-3 years prolly)