Modern dancing or ballet?

Question

I love, love, LOVE to dance both modern and ballet. I know that I want to be a dancer, but I can't pick what type! My mom says that I have to pick by next month. Please help me! Also, please don't say "Follow your heart" or whatever, because I honestly DON'T KNOW what my heart is trying to say!!

Answer 1

what do you like the most?

do you think that you can make it as a modern dancer?

do you think that you can make it as a ballerina?

do you go to ballet summer intensives?

do you go to modern summer intensives?

answer these questions.

then make a pros and cons list of the two.

Answer 2

Now depending on your style of life and how the class is will show what you should choose.  If your style of life is more hectic and you're choosing this as a non-stressful activity or to improve your Grace and poise- I would choose ballet. On the other hand modern is more moving and less about grace. In my personal opinion, I would choose the modern class because we don't have that at my studio and I would love to try it. My final thought is why not try out both classes for 1 class like this summer and decide on which one you like better! Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I'm not exactly sure why you would be having to choose between Modern and Ballet.....finances?  If that is the case and you have a relationship established with your dance instructor, perhaps you could strike a bargain with him/her....maybe you could act as a "demonstrator" for a beginning class or two to help offset the cost of a class...if you truly LOVE dancing, you shouldn't choose!  In fact, if at all possible you need to expand your repertoire to include as many dance genres as possible--Modern, Jazz, HipHop, Spanish, Tap.......and movement classes--fencing, yoga, T'ai Chi.  If you choose to pursue a degree in Dance, the University may be stronger in one Dance form than in another and it will be necessary to decide which type you feel you favor.  And I'm not going to tell you to "follow your heart."  Your heart may want to be a prima ballerina....your talent may be as a hoofer or you might be the next Martha Graham.  As you develop your strengths, be your harshest critic.  Judge yourself against other performers.  See where you excel and then work your darndest to improve in areas where you are weak.  

Summing up, see if you can't set up a meeting with you, the instructor(s) and your mom to discuss how you can continue to grow in at least these two Dance genres.  If your mom needs additional convincing, pull up some recent programs from some of the reputable Ballet Companies--American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, etc.....I think this will give you some ammunition against becoming so specialized.

Answer 4

Well, modern often utilizes floor work. However, it's distinct from ballet and show dancing (the musical comedy aspect).

Ballet has many different forms and the technique can prepare you if you take other kinds of dance such as jazz because some technique is very similar

Answer 5

Choreograph two dances -- ballet and modern -- and see which you enjoy doing more, and that is easier to throw yourself into.  That one is the one you should pick.

HOWEVER...

Ballet is so versatile.  You can make anything out of it; ballet can be almost modern, it can be character, it can be anything.  So basically if you can do ballet, you can do anything.  But that's NOT to say you should pick it over modern if you like modern better.

Answer 6

I did the same thing.  Jazz or ballet.  I'm 13 and I had a show last night and some people did ballet in the shiw also.  I watched how they moved, and I relized I couldn't belive I quit.  You might b the same way, so I'd suggest ballet.  Hope this helped

Xoxo,

Meaghan