Dear Colin,
I want to know if I should start ballet, but not as a professional. People have always told me that I look like a ballerina. I’m thin with long arms and legs, and I’m flexible (I don’t have much trouble doing the splits), but I’m 17 and I haven’t been en pointe at all! Secondly, my feet are totally flat. What should I do?
America CT, 17
Dear America CT,
If you are not aiming for a career in dance then there is no problem. There is no benefit in learning to dance en pointe at a young age. In fact, the later you start the better because you’ve had time to prepare your body for the demands of pointe work. Having said that – a dancer’s body, legs and feet need to be prepared for pointe work to prevent injury. Only a teacher who is working with you will be able to advise when you are ready. So, go for it. Dance is a lot of fun and if you already look like a ballerina then you are halfway there!
Best wishes,
Colin
Brett Chynoweth, Mitchell Rayner, Sarah Thompson and Noah Gumbert. Photography Jeff Busby
Dear Colin,
I am 73 years old and want to learn ballet. Can you tell me where to go? Please help. I have a good attitude and lots of time now that I am retired.
Bryan
Dear Bryan,
I applaud your attitude, congratulations! The key to a healthy retirement is to maintain your physical fitness and dance is an ideal form of exercise. Although there are many dance studios that offer dance classes for adults, may I suggest that you try social dance rather than ballet? Ballroom dancing, bootscooting, and square dancing are not only fun to do but also a great means of socialising. Meeting new friends and having fun while you maintain your physical fitness; is there a better way of spending your retirement?
All the best,
Colin
You can email your ballet questions to Colin at hello@behindballet.com
I wasn’t sure for a long time whether I wanted to write this comment, but I think it might be something that has to be said, and nobody else has commented, so here goes.
Colin, I’m amazed and shocked that you should suggest to a man who (by his age) certainly knows what he wants out of life, and who has asked for help in finding adult ballet classes (I’m sure he isn’t looking for childrens’ classes, and is aware of this), that he look at social dancing instead. To be certain, perhaps ballet isn’t suited to a 73-year-old man (and perhaps you’d know this better than me) but the writer didn’t ask for a place to keep fit or socialise – he specifically asked for a place to learn ballet in his retirement.
I understand that you probably can’t suggest specific schools on this blog, or maybe you just don’t know of any that would take someone of that age, or (lack of) experience, but maybe you should just have said that, instead of sounding like you were just trying to foist him off on some other group of dancers?
Sincerely,
Jen
Hey. This might seem like another late starter question but i was just woundering, being small, starting late and still to be on pointe, what are my chances of being professional? thxs for answering
Dear Emily,
One of the better lessons I’ve learned in my 50+ years of professional dancing is to never believe anything is impossible. I have known late starters who have surpassed their early starter friends because they have three important attributes. One, and the most important to my mind, is passion – a deep desire to express themselves through movement. Two is they have a body that is flexible, well-shaped and strong. And three, they are intelligent – by that I mean they don’t just ‘look and learn’ instead they try to understand the basic laws of classical ballet and how it relates to their particular body.
If that sounds like you, then go for it, the world of dance is waiting for you.
Colin