I didn’t begin dancing until I was 13 years old. Typically, in ballet the average ballerina starts training a decade earlier than that. If you have gotten a late start in dance, this is for you.
I have always wanted to do something artistic from the time I was just a kid. My parents enrolled me in piano lessons, but it didn’t stick… I would get bored sitting still in front of the piano to practice. Movement is something that comes much more naturally. When I was in elementary and middle school, I would choreograph dances to perform them for my family.
When I was 11, I enrolled in cheerleading and absolutely loved it. I began to consider competitive cheerleading and hip hop, but that kind of dance didn’t vibe with me as much. The Summer I turned 13, I basically locked myself in the basement and practiced ballet all Summer long. Literally, I would choreograph ballet dances from the time I woke up until the time I went to bed.
My dedication finally convinced my parents to enroll me in a professional ballet school. I danced there from the time I was 13-17.
In the beginning, I was extremely behind. Some of the other dancers in my class were as young as 9 years old, and I was always the oldest one in the class. However, with dedication, I caught up quickly.
My first few years of ballet were wonderful. I really adapted quickly to my new life as a dancer. However, once I reached the pre-professional division, things changed. This is because when dancers reach the pre-professional level, they’re looked at from the lens of whether or not they can make it in the ballet world. Things such as height, weight, and body proportions matter.
My age discrepancy really became apparent when I reached the pre-professional level. In hindsight, I realize one of the reasons is I have always been curvy, and my body was being compared to much younger girls in my class. But I was still growing, and you can’t change who you are at a fundamental level. At age 17, I took the summer intensive… waking up at 5am to catch two buses to dance all day, 6 days a week. I felt myself losing my passion for dance.
I did something unusual for dancers and took an extended break. I stopped dancing for three years until I went to college for dance.
How did I go three years without dancing at all and get back into it so easily, especially during those fundamental years for dancers?
The body remembers. I mean that both physically and mentally. First of all, muscle memory is real, and this is how I was able to get right back into dance. Mentally speaking, this is also why I just don’t identify with ballet as much as other types of dance… my body remembers.
I’m sharing this capsule-size reiteration of my journey to show you that there’s not just one path for a dancer.
I’m not someone who began dancing as a toddler. I’ve taken extended breaks from dance for my mental health. And guess what? I’m even better of a dancer today than I’ve ever been.
Why? Because I just don’t care! I’m not here to impress. I don’t need to have 180 degree turnout or the ability to do 32 fouettés en pointe. In fact, that actually limited me in the past since I was too stuck in ballet mode to excel in other dance forms. By getting out of the ballet mindset, I’m able to pick up on choreography much quicker. I feel so much healthier. I move in different ways than I have in the past which are vital for the company I’m in.
I’m dancing and teaching professionally today, but the type of dance I prefer is completely different from what I started out in. I’ve found those little pockets within the dance world that aren’t trying to prove anything. So that’s the thing… my dance journey has turned out way different than what I expected. But it’s so much better than I expected. And guess what? I’m only at the beginning. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t stop dancing at a certain age. That’s old, toxic programming.
You can dance for as long as you want. And you will only improve with practice.
If you’re getting a late start in dance, I want to open your eyes to see that your journey is different… and that a different path doesn’t mean worse. I want to encourage you to find those communities that are going to be a fit for you. Being a professional ballerina wasn’t a fit for me… I mean really, would I want to be in the corps de ballet waving a rose for years on end? Uh, no thanks!
Now I’m exploring forms of dance that are just so fulfilling. I really believe that you can do the same. Forget about the strict types of dance… open your mind. Think outside the box and find your people.